Why did the chicken not cross the road? Anthropogenic development influences the movement of a grassland bird

Abstract

Movement and selection are inherently linked behaviors that form the foundation of a species' space-use patterns. Anthropogenic development in natural ecosystems can result in a variety of behavioral responses that can involve changes in either movement (speed or direction of travel) or selection (resources used), which in turn may cause population-level consequences including loss of landscape connectivity. Understanding how a species alters these different behaviors in response to human activity is essential for effective conservation. In this study, we investigated the effects of anthropogenic development such as roads, power lines and oil wells on the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) movement and selection behaviors in the post-nesting and non-breeding season. Our first objective was to assess using integrated step selection analysis (iSSA) if greater prairie-chickens altered their movement behaviors or their selection patterns when encountering oil wells, power lines, or roads. Our second objective was to determine whether prairiechickens avoided crossing linear features such as roads or power lines by comparing the number of crossing events in greater prairie-chicken movement tracks to the number of movements that crossed these features in simulated movement tracks. Based on the iSSA analysis, we found that greater prairiechickens avoided oil wells, power lines, and roads in both seasons, and altered their rate of movement when near anthropogenic structures. However, changes in speed varied by season, with prairie-chickens increasing their movement rates in the post-nesting season when near to development and decreasing movement rates in the non-breeding season. Furthermore, prairiechickens crossed roads and power lines at much lower rates than expected.These changes in behavior can result in habitat loss for greater prairiechickens, as well as the potential loss of landscape connectivity. By considering both movement and selection, we were able to develop an ecological understanding of how increasing human activity may influence the space use of this species of conservation concern. Furthermore, this research provides insight into the decision-making processes by animals when they encounter anthropogenic development.

Lesser prairie‐chicken habitat selection and survival relative to a wind energy facility located in a fragmented landscape

“…We observed movements of lesser prairie-chickens between turbines, suggesting that turbine spacing at the Facility did not result in a barrier to local movements in those areas which is in contrast to studies that suggest anthropogenic features including transmission lines, roads, and well pads may influence movements (Pruett et al 2009, Peterson et al 2020, Londe et al 2022. In contrast to local movements, we did not detect longer movements through the wind energy facility (>5 km).…”

Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse brood success and chick survival in a wind‐energy landscape

“…Decreased offspring survival in our study could have resulted from increased mammalian predation if turbine access roads or resulting habitat fragmentation facilitated mammalian predator movements and hunting efficiency (Dickie et al 2017). Prairie‐chickens in Oklahoma avoided roads and altered their movement speed in response to roads, possibly viewing these areas as high‐risk sites (Londe et al 2022). While we did not estimate Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse space use, changes in movement patterns in response to anthropogenic development may result in habitat avoidance or loss or lead to trade‐offs with other behaviors, which can cause reduce fitness and survival (Hernandez and Laundre 2005).…”

Review of Conservation Challenges and Possible Solutions for Grassland Birds of the North American Great Plains

“…For example, it is estimated that for every oil well, 100 ha of road is constructed (Riley et al 2012), and some of the ecological effects of these roads may extend up to 1 km (Benítez-López et al 2010). Roads cut through otherwise intact grassland landscapes and can act as corridors for invasive vegetation (Forman and Alexander 1998; Gelbard and Belnap 2003), alter predator communities (Frey and Conover 2006; Glass and Eichholz 2022), and create movement barriers for grassland bird species (Londe et al 2022). Numerous studies of grassland birds have documented not only avoidance of roads (Sutter et al 2000; Sliwinski and Koper 2012; Wellicome et al 2014; Thompson et al 2015) but also depressed reproductive success and increased parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) with proximity to roads (Miller et al 1998; Bernath-Plaisted et al 2017; Daniel and Koper 2019).…”