Understanding How Vehicular Traffic Impacts Sage-Grouse Populations In Wyoming Active
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.
Background
Road networks and their associated vehicular traffic negatively impact populations of many terrestrial species by causing habitat degradation, functional habitat loss, and direct mortality. Studies of these impacts often focus on the ‘where’ (for example, spatial features) but neglect the ‘when’ (for example, road age) or ‘how much’ (for example, traffic volume). Knowing these characteristics is critical for assessing the cumulative impact of roads and their associated vehicular traffic on ecosystems.
Declines and extirpation of greater sage-grouse have been documented at lek sites near major highways and other transportation infrastructure since the 1950s but are not well studied. Recent decades have also seen increased traffic associated with energy development such as oil and gas drilling, which can elevate stress hormones, change lekking behavior, and increase mortality. The cumulative and long-term impacts of vehicular traffic on sage-grouse populations are largely unknown, yet very little sage-grouse habitat in Wyoming remains untouched by road infrastructure.
Our Project
We are studying how traffic has affected greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population growth rates across the state of Wyoming. Specifically, we are using estimates of traffic volume in a statistical modeling framework to 1) assess how traffic has affected 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 or allow for sustainable (stable) populations.
Anticipated Outcomes
The results and findings of this work can directly inform sage-grouse conservation strategies by identifying which sage-grouse leks may be impacted by traffic, and to what degree population declines may be attributed to traffic. Possible management interventions such as traffic re-routing during lekking seasons or traffic restrictions may be identified as conservation efforts to avoid further population declines.
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.
Background
Road networks and their associated vehicular traffic negatively impact populations of many terrestrial species by causing habitat degradation, functional habitat loss, and direct mortality. Studies of these impacts often focus on the ‘where’ (for example, spatial features) but neglect the ‘when’ (for example, road age) or ‘how much’ (for example, traffic volume). Knowing these characteristics is critical for assessing the cumulative impact of roads and their associated vehicular traffic on ecosystems.
Declines and extirpation of greater sage-grouse have been documented at lek sites near major highways and other transportation infrastructure since the 1950s but are not well studied. Recent decades have also seen increased traffic associated with energy development such as oil and gas drilling, which can elevate stress hormones, change lekking behavior, and increase mortality. The cumulative and long-term impacts of vehicular traffic on sage-grouse populations are largely unknown, yet very little sage-grouse habitat in Wyoming remains untouched by road infrastructure.
Our Project
We are studying how traffic has affected greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population growth rates across the state of Wyoming. Specifically, we are using estimates of traffic volume in a statistical modeling framework to 1) assess how traffic has affected 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 or allow for sustainable (stable) populations.
Anticipated Outcomes
The results and findings of this work can directly inform sage-grouse conservation strategies by identifying which sage-grouse leks may be impacted by traffic, and to what degree population declines may be attributed to traffic. Possible management interventions such as traffic re-routing during lekking seasons or traffic restrictions may be identified as conservation efforts to avoid further population declines.