Greater sage‐grouse and fences: Does marking reduce collisions?

Stevens, Bryan S.; Reese, Kerry P.; Connelly, John W.; Musil, David D.

doi:10.1002/wsb.142

Cited by 25 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Therefore, the grazing‐induced replacement of species (perennials instead of annuals) occurs as a result of the selective utilization of plant species on the HG plots in the subhumid region. In this situation, most species are adapted to competition, rather than to the stress and disturbances induced by the intensive grazing and trampling (see also Craine, Fargione, & Sugita, ; Lezama & Paruelo, ; Stevens, Reese, & Connelly, ). On the contrary, steppes in the arid and semiarid regions of northeastern Iran differ in their flora and vegetation, with most species adapted to drought and herbivory—by possessing toxic compounds or spiny leaves and stems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of livestock grazing on soil, plant functional diversity, and ecological traits vary between regions with different climates in northeastern Iran

Rahmanian

Hejda

Ejtehadi

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Understanding the responses of vegetation characteristics and soil properties to grazing in different precipitation regimes is useful for the management of rangelands, especially in the arid regions. In northeastern Iran, we studied the responses of vegetation to livestock grazing in three regions with different climates: arid, semiarid, and subhumid. In each region, we selected 6–7 pairwise sampling areas of high versus low grazing intensity and six traits of the present species were recorded on 1 m 2 plots—five grazed and five ungrazed in each area. The overall fertility was compared using the dissimilarity analysis, and linear mixed‐effect models were used to compare the individual fertility parameters, functional diversity indices, and species traits between the plots with high and low grazing intensity and between the climatic regions. Both climate and grazing, as well as their interaction, affected fertility parameters, functional diversity indices, and the representation of species traits. Grazing reduced functional evenness, height of the community, the representation of annuals, but increased the community leaf area. In the subhumid region, grazing also reduced functional richness. Further, grazing decreased the share of annual species in the semiarid region and seed mass in the arid region. Larger leaf area and seed mass, smaller height and lower share of annuals were associated with intensive grazing. Species with large LA and seed mass, lower height and perennials can be therefore presumed to tolerate trampling and benefit from high nutrient levels, associated with intensive grazing. By providing a detailed view on the impacts of overgrazing, this study highlights the importance of protection from grazing as an effective management tool for maintaining the pastoral ecosystems. In general, the composition of plant traits across the pastures of northeastern Iran was more affected by intensive grazing than by the differences in climate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of livestock grazing on soil, plant functional diversity, and ecological traits vary between regions with different climates in northeastern Iran

Rahmanian

Hejda

Ejtehadi

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Targeting conservation to ensure that funds are allocated efficiently is often referred to as triage, a process that provides transparency and forces managers to consider opportunity costs of management actions (Bottrill et al ). Sage‐grouse collision appears highly variable within and between regions (Stevens et al , ). Variation in collision risk suggests mitigation is unnecessary at many sites and prioritizing mitigation as a function of risk may enable cost‐effective implementation of mitigation efforts (Stevens et al , ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sage‐grouse collision appears highly variable within and between regions (Stevens et al , ). Variation in collision risk suggests mitigation is unnecessary at many sites and prioritizing mitigation as a function of risk may enable cost‐effective implementation of mitigation efforts (Stevens et al , ). Thus, small but targeted investments could potentially alleviate much of the fence‐collision risk in breeding habitats, freeing up resources for other conservation efforts.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Steps to alleviate this research‐implementation gap include sourcing research questions directly from managers, fostering relationships between researchers and managers, and linking research to implementation of conservation actions. Research showing that fence marking can reduce sage‐grouse collisions (Stevens et al ) has spurred fence‐marking efforts on public and private lands across 11 western states. However, sage‐grouse occupy vast areas of western North America (Schroeder et al ), and wildlife managers desire spatially explicit targeting tools to maximize their return on conservation investments.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Mapping sage-grouse fence-collision risk: Spatially explicit models for targeting conservation implementation

et al. 2013

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Recent research suggested greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage‐grouse) fence collision may be widespread, and fence‐marking methods have been developed for reducing prairie‐grouse collision in sagebrush‐steppe habitats. However, research also suggested sage‐grouse collision was highly variable, and managers implementing mitigation desire targeting tools to prioritize mitigation efforts as a function of risk. We fit collision‐risk models using widely available covariates to a sage‐grouse fence‐collision data set from Idaho, USA, and developed spatially explicit versions of the top model for all known sage‐grouse breeding habitats (i.e., within 3 km of leks) in 10 of 11 western states where sage‐grouse are found. Our models prioritize breeding habitats for mitigation as a function of terrain ruggedness and distance to nearest lek, and suggest that a relatively small proportion of the total landscape (6–14%) in each state would result in >1 collision over a lekking season. Managers can use resulting models to prioritize fence‐marking by focusing efforts on high risk landscapes. Moreover, our models provide a spatially explicit tool to efficiently target conservation investments, and exemplify the way that researchers and managers can work together to turn scientific understanding into effective conservation solutions. © The Wildlife Society, 2013

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“…Wildfire ignition rates were relatively high (2006–2011: x̄ = 346 ignitions/year) and predominantly occurred during the summer (White and Lannoye , Environmental Department [ED] ), although the implementation of a fire restoration program and creation of fire containment areas has limited the spread of most ignitions (ED ). Habitat enhancement also occurred, including the removal and marking of fences hazardous to sage‐grouse (Stevens et al ), removal of raptor and raven nests from artificial structures (e.g., towers and power poles), and seeding and planting of big sagebrush in previously disturbed areas (Lannoye and White ).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of post‐release movements on survival of translocated sage‐grouse

et al. 2019

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Translocation is a vital tool in conservation and recovery programs, and knowledge of factors that determine demographic rates of translocated organisms is important for assessing the efficacy of translocations. Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have been the subject of recent translocation efforts because of their declining range and their usefulness as an umbrella species for conservation. Using a long‐term data set on sage‐grouse in central Washington, USA, we compared movement and demographic rates of translocated and resident birds. Because newly translocated birds experience physiological stress during translocation and are released in unfamiliar habitat, we hypothesized their demographic rates would differ from residents. We analyzed 18 years of radio‐tracking data acquired from resident, newly translocated (<1 yr post‐translocation; T1), and previously translocated (>1 yr post‐translocation; T2) sage‐grouse between 1989 and 2017 to estimate movement rates, survival, and productivity. Newly translocated sage‐grouse exhibited farther daily movements (0.58 km/day) and smaller 95% home ranges (89 km2) than residents and previously translocated birds. Daily movements and sex influenced survival, but survival did not differ according to residency status. Furthermore, birds that survived to a second year after translocation exhibited shorter daily movements compared to their first year (trueβˆ = −0.727 ± 0.157 [SE]), which corresponded with increased survival the second year (T1 = 0.526, T2 = 0.610). This decrease in movements and increase in survival the second year was not apparent in the control group of resident birds, indicating a possible behavioral link to survival of newly translocated sage‐grouse. Most productivity metrics were similar for translocated and resident birds, except for nest propensity (i.e., nest initiation rate), which was lower for newly translocated birds (35%) compared to residents and previously translocated birds. Our results reveal that translocated sage‐grouse exhibit temporary differences in some demographic parameters in their first year, which later align with those of resident birds in subsequent years. Similarities in adult and nest survival according to residency status further suggest that translocation may prove to be a viable tool for restoring and conserving this species. Continued declines in sage‐grouse populations in Washington, however, indicate that habitat conversion and fragmentation may be reducing demographic rates of residents and translocated birds, which warrants further study. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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Greater sage‐grouse and fences: Does marking reduce collisions?

Cited by 25 publications

References 36 publications

Effects of livestock grazing on soil, plant functional diversity, and ecological traits vary between regions with different climates in northeastern Iran

Effects of livestock grazing on soil, plant functional diversity, and ecological traits vary between regions with different climates in northeastern Iran

Mapping sage-grouse fence-collision risk: Spatially explicit models for targeting conservation implementation

Effects of post‐release movements on survival of translocated sage‐grouse

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