Assessing Greater Sage-Grouse Selection of Brood-Rearing Habitat Using Remotely-Sensed Imagery: Can Readily Available High-Resolution Imagery Be Used to Identify Brood-Rearing Habitat Across a Broad Landscape?

Westover, Matthew D.; Baxter, Jared; Baxter, Rick J.; Day, Casey C.; Jensen, Ryan R.; Petersen, Steve; Larsen, Randy T.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156290

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…There may also be site-specific conditions that counteract the negative influence of power lines on sage-grouse. This was demonstrated by Westover et al [33] who observed positive selection for transmission lines during the brooding period in Utah. These temporally dependent and site-specific conditions may explain why Johnson et al [34] did not detect a consistent relationship between distance to power lines and leks trends across the specie’s range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

The effects of electric power lines on the breeding ecology of greater sage-grouse

et al. 2019

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Anthropogenic infrastructure can negatively affect wildlife through direct mortality and/or displacement behaviors. Some tetranoids (grouse spp.) species are particularly vulnerable to tall anthropogenic structures because they evolved in ecosystems void of vertical structures. In western North America, electric power transmission and distribution lines (power lines) occur in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) landscapes within the range of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended using buffer zones near leks to mitigate the potential impacts of power lines on sage-grouse. However, recommended buffer distances are inconsistent across state and federal agencies because data are lacking. To address this, we evaluated the effects of power lines on sage-grouse breeding ecology within Utah, portions of southeastern Idaho, and southwestern Wyoming from 1998–2013. Overall, power lines negatively affected lek trends up to a distance of 2.7 and 2.8 km, respectively. Power lines died not affect lek persistence. Female sage-grouse avoided transmission lines during the nesting and brooding seasons at distances up to 1.1 and 0.8 km, respectively. Nest and brood success were negatively affected by transmission lines up to distances of 2.6 and 1.1 km, respectively. Distribution lines did not appear to affect sage-grouse habitat selection or reproductive fitness. Our analyses demonstrated the value of sagebrush cover in mitigating potential power line impacts. Managers can minimize the effects of new transmission power lines by placing them in existing anthropogenic corridors and/or incorporating buffers at least 2.8 km from active leks. Given the uncertainty we observed in our analyses regarding sage-grouse response to distribution lines coupled with their role in providing electric power service directly to individual consumers, we recommend that buffers for these power lines be considered on a case-by-case basis. Micrositing to avoid important habitats and habitat reclamation may reduce the potential impacts of new power line construction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

The effects of electric power lines on the breeding ecology of greater sage-grouse

et al. 2019

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“…Sagebrush cover has decreased by approximately 40%-50% [17,18] throughout much of its range, due mainly to anthropogenic factors (e.g., overgrazing, energy and urban development, recreation). Changes in plant community structure due to increased invasive plants and changes in fire regimes have also contributed greatly to the alteration of sagebrush dominated landscapes [19][20][21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sage-grouse dependence on sagebrush extends throughout all seasons and life stages, with sagebrush height being a vital attribute of brood-rearing and nesting habitat and winter range [23][24][25][26]. As a result of their moderate reproductive rates [27,28], and the direct correlation between nest/brood success and sagebrush structure [19], it is vital for land managers to understand changes in sagebrush habitat in areas they manage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring Height Characteristics of Sagebrush (Artemisia sp.) Using Imagery Derived from Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS)

Howell

Jensen

Petersen

et al. 2020

Drones

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In situ measurements of sagebrush have traditionally been expensive and time consuming. Currently, improvements in small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) technology can be used to quantify sagebrush morphology and community structure with high resolution imagery on western rangelands, especially in sensitive habitat of the Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The emergence of photogrammetry algorithms to generate 3D point clouds from true color imagery can potentially increase the efficiency and accuracy of measuring shrub height in sage-grouse habitat. Our objective was to determine optimal parameters for measuring sagebrush height including flight altitude, single- vs. double- pass, and continuous vs. pause features. We acquired imagery using a DJI Mavic Pro 2 multi-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) equipped with an RGB camera, flown at 30.5, 45, 75, and 120 m and implementing single-pass and double-pass methods, using continuous flight and paused flight for each photo method. We generated a Digital Surface Model (DSM) from which we derived plant height, and then performed an accuracy assessment using on the ground measurements taken at the time of flight. We found high correlation between field measured heights and estimated heights, with a mean difference of approximately 10 cm (SE = 0.4 cm) and little variability in accuracy between flights with different heights and other parameters after statistical correction using linear regression. We conclude that higher altitude flights using a single-pass method are optimal to measure sagebrush height due to lower requirements in data storage and processing time.

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“…In addition, a lack of newly established power lines limits our ability to implement well‐designed studies to address potential indirect effects with pre‐development data. Based on the few studies that exist, however, the extent and magnitude of effects appear to vary based on power line characteristics, amount of available habitat, and the affected population parameter (Armentrout and Hall , Schroeder , Westover et al , Gibson et al , Kohl et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Greater sage‐grouse habitat function relative to 230‐kV transmission lines

LeBeau

Smith

Holloran³

et al. 2019

J Wildl Manag

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Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a landscape‐level species that requires large tracts of intact sagebrush (Artemisia spp.). Loss of functional habitat resulting from increased demand for energy generation, transmission, and distribution within greater sage‐grouse habitats in the western United States has the potential to negatively affect this species. We monitored 346 radio‐marked female greater sage‐grouse from 2009 to 2014 to evaluate the potential effects of 27‐m‐tall, 230‐kilovolt (kV) wood‐pole, H‐frame transmission lines on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection and demography. We modeled the effect of the transmission lines in 2 different study areas simultaneously using consistent habitat data. Previous research in our study areas suggested that the effect of transmission lines was potentially confounded by other habitat features. We accounted for these potential confounding effects by estimating habitat suitability before estimating the effect of transmission lines. We combined habitat selection and demography results to estimate habitat function relative to transmission lines and inform management recommendations. Overall, we found evidence that transmission lines had a negative effect on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection and survival within our study areas over 6 years, but the magnitude of this effect varied by habitat suitability and proximity to occupied leks. The effect of transmission lines on habitat function extended 1.0 km from a transmission line in habitats within 3.1 km of an occupied lek compared to 0.50 km from a transmission line in habitats beyond 3.1 km from occupied leks. Based on these results, we suggest future power line placement relative to sage‐grouse nesting, brood‐rearing, and summer habitats consider potential effects to sage‐grouse habitat selection and demography. Effects can be minimized by incorporating design features that discourage avian predator perching and siting power lines in habitats with lower suitability and, in our study area, habitats beyond 3.1 km from occupied leks. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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Assessing Greater Sage-Grouse Selection of Brood-Rearing Habitat Using Remotely-Sensed Imagery: Can Readily Available High-Resolution Imagery Be Used to Identify Brood-Rearing Habitat Across a Broad Landscape?

Cited by 7 publications

References 47 publications

The effects of electric power lines on the breeding ecology of greater sage-grouse

The effects of electric power lines on the breeding ecology of greater sage-grouse

Measuring Height Characteristics of Sagebrush (Artemisia sp.) Using Imagery Derived from Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS)

Greater sage‐grouse habitat function relative to 230‐kV transmission lines

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