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Data maps of predicted raven density and areas of potential impact to nesting sage-grouse within sagebrush ecosystems of the North American Great Basin

March 5, 2020

These data represent predicted common raven (Corvus corax) density (ravens/square-km) derived from random forest models given field site unit-specific estimates of raven density that were obtained from hierarchical distance sampling models at 43 field site units within the Great Basin region, USA. Fifteen landscape-level predictors summarizing climate, vegetation, topography and anthropogenic footprint were used to predict average raven density at each unit. A raven density of greater than or equal to 0.40 ravens/square-km corresponds to below-average survival rates of sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nests. We mapped areas which exceed this threshold within sage-grouse concentration areas to determine where ravens may be impacting sage-grouse populations.

Publication Year 2020
Title Data maps of predicted raven density and areas of potential impact to nesting sage-grouse within sagebrush ecosystems of the North American Great Basin
DOI 10.5066/P9T5JT8N
Authors Peter S Coates, Shawn T O'Neil, Brianne E Brussee, Mark Ricca, Pat J. Jackson, Jonathan B. Dinkins, Kristy B. Howe, Ann M. Moser, Lee J. Foster, David J. Delehanty
Product Type Data Release
Record Source USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog
USGS Organization Western Ecological Research Center - Headquarters