Shrubland, Alpine and Grassland Ecology (SAGE) Wildlife Research Group
Active
By Fort Collins Science Center
March 1, 2026
The SAGE Wildlife Research Group consists of a large team of research scientists with an interest in conservation and management of wildlife and their ecosystems. Broadly, research involves understanding animal-habitat relationships, with an emphasis on conservation ecology and population demography, and a focus on shrubland, alpine, and grassland ecosystems. We are addressing the effects of energy development and land-use change on conserving wildlife populations, their habitats, and the ecosystems they inhabit, and work closely on these issues with state and federal partners, NGOs, conservation groups and industry.
Species we currently study include songbirds, mammals, snakes, lizards, and grouse, such as white-tailed ptarmigan and sage-grouse. We also work with plant communities and exotic invasive plants to understand how external drivers such as grazing and energy development affect plant communities and thus, wildlife. We work across spatial scales and use statistical and empirical modeling to answer research questions, many of which have direct applications for conservation and management of species, most notably sage-grouse, and their habitats.
Sagebrush Restoration and Recovery
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)
Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)
Predicting recovery of sagebrush ecosystems
Predicting recovery of sagebrush ecosystems
Soil-climate for managing sagebrush ecosystems
Soil-climate for managing sagebrush ecosystems
Invasive Annual Grasses
Economic assessment of addressing invasive annual grasses
Economic assessment of addressing invasive annual grasses
Vegetation conditions and invasive plant species on mine lands
Vegetation conditions and invasive plant species on mine lands
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Assessing invasive annual grass treatment efficacy across the sagebrush biome
Assessing invasive annual grass treatment efficacy across the sagebrush biome
Effects of the herbicide, Indaziflam, on invasive annual grasses
Effects of the herbicide, Indaziflam, on invasive annual grasses
Evaluating potential vectors of annual grass invasion
Evaluating potential vectors of annual grass invasion
Invasive Annual Grass (IAG) Spatial Dataset Compilation and Synthesis
Invasive Annual Grass (IAG) Spatial Dataset Compilation and Synthesis
Sage-grouse Monitoring and Conservation
Hierarchical Population Monitoring Framework for Greater Sage-Grouse
Hierarchical Population Monitoring Framework for Greater Sage-Grouse
Road Ecology
Road Ecology
Development and application of genomic resources for the greater sage-grouse
Development and application of genomic resources for the greater sage-grouse
Creating range-wide predictive maps of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats
Creating range-wide predictive maps of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats
Wildlife Biology and Management
Predicting songbird population response to environmental change
Predicting songbird population response to environmental change
Mapping Grassland Bird Community Distribution under a Changing Climate
Mapping Grassland Bird Community Distribution under a Changing Climate
Prioritizing conifer removal for multi-species outcomes
Prioritizing conifer removal for multi-species outcomes
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems
Mapping wild horse densities across broad landscapes of the Western United States
Mapping wild horse densities across broad landscapes of the Western United States
Assessing vegetation and avian community response to juniper reduction treatments
Assessing vegetation and avian community response to juniper reduction treatments
Highlighted News from the SAGE Wildlife Research Group
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New tools for a growing threat: Co-developed science informs the fight against invasive grasses in the sagebrush biome New tools for a growing threat: Co-developed science informs the fight against invasive grasses in the sagebrush biome
In a new study, FORT scientists worked with resource managers to co-develop a strategic framework for invasive grass management across the sagebrush biome. The framework, implemented through computer simulation models, can help resource managers explore the efficacy of invasive grass management strategies and develop informed, economic conservation plans.
-
New study on the economics of public land treatments reveals treatment characteristics influence costs New study on the economics of public land treatments reveals treatment characteristics influence costs
Limited information exists on the costs of public land treatments, such as controlling flammable weeds and conducting prescribed burns, but managers can pair cost information with effectiveness data to improve decision making. In a new study, researchers used data from the BLM/USGS Land Treatment Digital Library to develop land treatment cost estimates.
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FORT scientists present research at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting FORT scientists present research at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting
A group of FORT scientists presented virtually and in-person at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting in Spokane, Washington, from February 9–13.
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Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome
Fuel breaks – strips of land managed for reduced flammability – are designed to aid wildfire suppression and management. However, construction of fuel breaks may reduce wildlife habitat and introduce invasive species to ecosystems. In a new study published in Fire Ecology, USGS and Colorado State University researchers investigated these potential trade-offs of fuel breaks in sagebrush ecosystems.
-
Considering current ecosystem condition in restoration planning Considering current ecosystem condition in restoration planning
Restoration planning requires managers to weigh the potential benefits and costs of restoration action at a site. Sometimes, managers use structured, mathematical algorithms to decide where to focus restoration efforts. However, these algorithms do not always consider the current condition of ecosystems, instead focusing on the potential value of the resulting (desired) ecosystem.
Filter Total Items: 58
Influence of future climate scenarios on habitat and population dynamics of greater sage-grouse
Sagebrush ecosystems and sagebrush-dependent wildlife species are likely to experience more frequent extreme drought and temperature conditions with changing climate. Greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus), an indicator species in sagebrush ecosystems, may experience habitat and population losses that are increasingly exacerbated by current and future climate change. However, the direct...
Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments
Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations
Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
Predicting risk of annual grass invasion following fire in sagebrush steppe and rangeland ecosystems
This project analyzes on-the-ground plant monitoring data across sagebrush and rangeland ecosystems to examine how fire, climate, topography, and plant communities influence the success of invasive annual grasses after fires.
Understanding How Vehicular Traffic Impacts Sage-Grouse Populations In Wyoming
In 2021, the Fort Collins Science Center initiated a research effort to 1) assess how traffic in Wyoming has impacted sage-grouse population growth rates, 2) identify the spatial scales at which these effects are most evident, and 3) identify what levels of traffic result in sage-grouse population declines.
Prioritizing conifer removal for multi-species outcomes
Wildlife management is frequently conducted to benefit a single species, despite evidence that suggests such an approach often fails to adequately address the needs of other species within a region. Managing for multiple species’ habitat requirements is even more critical when large scale habitat management efforts change vegetation conditions at the landscape scale, or when management occurs at...
Soil-climate for Managing Sagebrush Ecosystems
Soil-climate describes the temperature and moisture conditions important for plant growth and function. Soil condition patterns determine which vegetation is most abundant, thus controlling which habitats, invasive species, fuels, and economic activities are present in a region. Here, we use a model to simulate the vertical movement of water in a soil profile to provide insights into landscape...
Climate Averages of Soil-climate for Sagebrush Ecosystems
Soil conditions are a key part of functioning ecosystem and affect the distribution and abundance of plants, forage production, and habitat patterns. The distribution of soil conditions, as well as other environmental factors such as precipitation, temperature, geology, topography, and vegetation determine the patterns and dynamics of wildlife habitats and biodiversity across the landscape. We...
Future Scenarios of Soil-climate for Sagebrush Ecosystems
Climate forecasts provide a unique tool to researchers and wildlife managers, allowing for a look into potential future climate conditions. Climate models provide multiple scenarios that assume different mitigation polices implemented by governments. By using these data in a statistical model to estimate soil-climate conditions, we can investigate the connection between future climate and...
Assessing invasive annual grass treatment efficacy across the sagebrush biome
We are using existing datasets that span broad spatial and temporal extents to model the efficacy of invasive annual grass treatments across the sagebrush biome and the influence of environmental factors on their success. The models we develop will be used to generate maps of predicted treatment efficacy across the biome, which will be integrated into the Land Treatment Exploration Tool for land...
Understanding Population Trends for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse to Inform Adaptive Management
In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center and Western Ecological Research Center are applying a hierarchical monitoring framework to Gunnison sage-grouse ( Centrocercus minimus) to evaluate population trends and inform adaptive management.
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)
USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of wild horse and livestock records across the greater sage-grouse range to investigate impacts on vegetation and wildlife (specifically, sage-grouse and songbirds). Researchers will use these results to evaluate Appropriate Management Levels for wild horse and burros, and projections of vegetation productivity under changing conditions.
The SAGE Wildlife Research Group consists of a large team of research scientists with an interest in conservation and management of wildlife and their ecosystems. Broadly, research involves understanding animal-habitat relationships, with an emphasis on conservation ecology and population demography, and a focus on shrubland, alpine, and grassland ecosystems. We are addressing the effects of energy development and land-use change on conserving wildlife populations, their habitats, and the ecosystems they inhabit, and work closely on these issues with state and federal partners, NGOs, conservation groups and industry.
Species we currently study include songbirds, mammals, snakes, lizards, and grouse, such as white-tailed ptarmigan and sage-grouse. We also work with plant communities and exotic invasive plants to understand how external drivers such as grazing and energy development affect plant communities and thus, wildlife. We work across spatial scales and use statistical and empirical modeling to answer research questions, many of which have direct applications for conservation and management of species, most notably sage-grouse, and their habitats.
Sagebrush Restoration and Recovery
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)
Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)
Predicting recovery of sagebrush ecosystems
Predicting recovery of sagebrush ecosystems
Soil-climate for managing sagebrush ecosystems
Soil-climate for managing sagebrush ecosystems
Invasive Annual Grasses
Economic assessment of addressing invasive annual grasses
Economic assessment of addressing invasive annual grasses
Vegetation conditions and invasive plant species on mine lands
Vegetation conditions and invasive plant species on mine lands
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Assessing invasive annual grass treatment efficacy across the sagebrush biome
Assessing invasive annual grass treatment efficacy across the sagebrush biome
Effects of the herbicide, Indaziflam, on invasive annual grasses
Effects of the herbicide, Indaziflam, on invasive annual grasses
Evaluating potential vectors of annual grass invasion
Evaluating potential vectors of annual grass invasion
Invasive Annual Grass (IAG) Spatial Dataset Compilation and Synthesis
Invasive Annual Grass (IAG) Spatial Dataset Compilation and Synthesis
Sage-grouse Monitoring and Conservation
Hierarchical Population Monitoring Framework for Greater Sage-Grouse
Hierarchical Population Monitoring Framework for Greater Sage-Grouse
Road Ecology
Road Ecology
Development and application of genomic resources for the greater sage-grouse
Development and application of genomic resources for the greater sage-grouse
Creating range-wide predictive maps of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats
Creating range-wide predictive maps of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats
Wildlife Biology and Management
Predicting songbird population response to environmental change
Predicting songbird population response to environmental change
Mapping Grassland Bird Community Distribution under a Changing Climate
Mapping Grassland Bird Community Distribution under a Changing Climate
Prioritizing conifer removal for multi-species outcomes
Prioritizing conifer removal for multi-species outcomes
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems
Mapping wild horse densities across broad landscapes of the Western United States
Mapping wild horse densities across broad landscapes of the Western United States
Assessing vegetation and avian community response to juniper reduction treatments
Assessing vegetation and avian community response to juniper reduction treatments
Highlighted News from the SAGE Wildlife Research Group
-
-
New tools for a growing threat: Co-developed science informs the fight against invasive grasses in the sagebrush biome New tools for a growing threat: Co-developed science informs the fight against invasive grasses in the sagebrush biome
In a new study, FORT scientists worked with resource managers to co-develop a strategic framework for invasive grass management across the sagebrush biome. The framework, implemented through computer simulation models, can help resource managers explore the efficacy of invasive grass management strategies and develop informed, economic conservation plans.
-
-
New study on the economics of public land treatments reveals treatment characteristics influence costs New study on the economics of public land treatments reveals treatment characteristics influence costs
Limited information exists on the costs of public land treatments, such as controlling flammable weeds and conducting prescribed burns, but managers can pair cost information with effectiveness data to improve decision making. In a new study, researchers used data from the BLM/USGS Land Treatment Digital Library to develop land treatment cost estimates.
-
-
FORT scientists present research at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting FORT scientists present research at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting
A group of FORT scientists presented virtually and in-person at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting in Spokane, Washington, from February 9–13.
-
-
Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome
Fuel breaks – strips of land managed for reduced flammability – are designed to aid wildfire suppression and management. However, construction of fuel breaks may reduce wildlife habitat and introduce invasive species to ecosystems. In a new study published in Fire Ecology, USGS and Colorado State University researchers investigated these potential trade-offs of fuel breaks in sagebrush ecosystems.
-
-
Considering current ecosystem condition in restoration planning Considering current ecosystem condition in restoration planning
Restoration planning requires managers to weigh the potential benefits and costs of restoration action at a site. Sometimes, managers use structured, mathematical algorithms to decide where to focus restoration efforts. However, these algorithms do not always consider the current condition of ecosystems, instead focusing on the potential value of the resulting (desired) ecosystem.
Filter Total Items: 58
Influence of future climate scenarios on habitat and population dynamics of greater sage-grouse
Sagebrush ecosystems and sagebrush-dependent wildlife species are likely to experience more frequent extreme drought and temperature conditions with changing climate. Greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus), an indicator species in sagebrush ecosystems, may experience habitat and population losses that are increasingly exacerbated by current and future climate change. However, the direct...
Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments
Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations
Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
Predicting risk of annual grass invasion following fire in sagebrush steppe and rangeland ecosystems
This project analyzes on-the-ground plant monitoring data across sagebrush and rangeland ecosystems to examine how fire, climate, topography, and plant communities influence the success of invasive annual grasses after fires.
Understanding How Vehicular Traffic Impacts Sage-Grouse Populations In Wyoming
In 2021, the Fort Collins Science Center initiated a research effort to 1) assess how traffic in Wyoming has impacted sage-grouse population growth rates, 2) identify the spatial scales at which these effects are most evident, and 3) identify what levels of traffic result in sage-grouse population declines.
Prioritizing conifer removal for multi-species outcomes
Wildlife management is frequently conducted to benefit a single species, despite evidence that suggests such an approach often fails to adequately address the needs of other species within a region. Managing for multiple species’ habitat requirements is even more critical when large scale habitat management efforts change vegetation conditions at the landscape scale, or when management occurs at...
Soil-climate for Managing Sagebrush Ecosystems
Soil-climate describes the temperature and moisture conditions important for plant growth and function. Soil condition patterns determine which vegetation is most abundant, thus controlling which habitats, invasive species, fuels, and economic activities are present in a region. Here, we use a model to simulate the vertical movement of water in a soil profile to provide insights into landscape...
Climate Averages of Soil-climate for Sagebrush Ecosystems
Soil conditions are a key part of functioning ecosystem and affect the distribution and abundance of plants, forage production, and habitat patterns. The distribution of soil conditions, as well as other environmental factors such as precipitation, temperature, geology, topography, and vegetation determine the patterns and dynamics of wildlife habitats and biodiversity across the landscape. We...
Future Scenarios of Soil-climate for Sagebrush Ecosystems
Climate forecasts provide a unique tool to researchers and wildlife managers, allowing for a look into potential future climate conditions. Climate models provide multiple scenarios that assume different mitigation polices implemented by governments. By using these data in a statistical model to estimate soil-climate conditions, we can investigate the connection between future climate and...
Assessing invasive annual grass treatment efficacy across the sagebrush biome
We are using existing datasets that span broad spatial and temporal extents to model the efficacy of invasive annual grass treatments across the sagebrush biome and the influence of environmental factors on their success. The models we develop will be used to generate maps of predicted treatment efficacy across the biome, which will be integrated into the Land Treatment Exploration Tool for land...
Understanding Population Trends for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse to Inform Adaptive Management
In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center and Western Ecological Research Center are applying a hierarchical monitoring framework to Gunnison sage-grouse ( Centrocercus minimus) to evaluate population trends and inform adaptive management.
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)
USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of wild horse and livestock records across the greater sage-grouse range to investigate impacts on vegetation and wildlife (specifically, sage-grouse and songbirds). Researchers will use these results to evaluate Appropriate Management Levels for wild horse and burros, and projections of vegetation productivity under changing conditions.