Demographic effects of a megafire on a declining prairie grouse in the mixed‐grass prairie

Abstract

Recent studies have documented benefits of small, prescribed fire and wildfire for grassland-dependent wildlife, such as lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicintus), but wildlife demographic response to the scale and intensity of megafire (wildfire >40,000 ha) in modern, fragmented grasslands remains unknown. Limited available grassland habitat makes it imperative to understand if increasing frequency of megafires could further reduce already declining lesser prairie-chicken populations, or if historical evolutionary interactions with fire make lesser prairie-chickens resilient. To evaluate lesser prairie-chicken demographic response to megafires, we compared lek counts, nest density, and survival rates of adults, nests, and chicks before (2014)(2015)(2016) and after (2018-2020) a 2017 megafire in the mixed-grass prairie of Kansas, USA (Starbuck fire ~254,000 ha). There was a 67% decline in attending males on leks post-fire and a 57% decline in occupied leks post-fire. Despite population declines as indicated by lek counts, adult female breeding season survival ( Ŝ) was similar pre-( Ŝ = 0.65 ± 0.08 [SE]) and post-fire (0.61 ± 0.08), as was chick survival (pre-fire: 0.23 ± 0.07; post-fire: 0.27 ± 0.11). Nest survival appeared lower post-fire (pre-fire: 0.38 ± 0.06; post-fire: 0.20 ± 0.06), but did not differ at the 95% confidence interval.Nest density of marked females declined 73% in areas burned by megafire. Although lesser prairie-chickens persisted in the study area and we documented minimal effects on most demographic rates, reduced lesser prairie-chicken abundance and reproductive output suggests full recovery may take >3 years. Increased propensity for megafire resulting from suppression of smaller fires, compounded by climate change and woody encroachment, may impose a short-term (3-5 year) threat to already declining lesser prairie-chicken populations.

Assessment of lesser prairie‐chicken translocation through survival and lek surveys

“…A lek is often defined as having 3 or more males displaying (Haukos and Boal 2016), but due to dispersal behavior of released birds after translocation, leks were defined as locations where at least one male displaying was observed. We surveyed for leks on the ground throughout the study area by listening for calls between sunrise and 1000 Central Daylight Savings Time, during favorable weather conditions (e.g., wind <24 km/h; no concurrent precipitation; Parker et al 2022). Leks were also located using marked female and male birds and concentrations of telemetry locations.…”

Exploring Old Data with New Tricks: Long-Term Monitoring Indicates Spatial and Temporal Changes in Populations of Sympatric Prairie Grouse in the Nebraska Sandhills

“…Both species have experienced precipitous population declines across their respective ranges and are subspecies of conservation concern in the Great Plains [6,7]. Prairie grouse research efforts have primarily focused on regions where these species are declining to uncover the drivers of downward population trends [8][9][10][11]. Studies of declining populations have provided important insights into how grassland habitat loss and degradation resulting from agricultural intensification [11,12], grazing practices [13], anthropogenic development [14], and woody encroachment [15] have negatively affected prairie grouse demographic rates and abundance, providing managers with vital information to triage struggling populations.…”