Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

2020 Annual Report

USGS Sage-grouse and Sagebrush Ecosystem Research

Read the Report

Range-wide greater sage-grouse hierarchical monitoring framework

Implications for defining population boundaries, trend estimation, and a targeted annual warning system

Check it out

Greater Sage-grouse Annotated Bibliography

New report provides easy access to sage-grouse science developed since January 2015

Learn more

Sagebrush Conservation Strategy

Challenges to Sagebrush Conservation

Read More

U.S. Geological Survey wildland fire science strategic plan, 2021–26

Defines core USGS fire science capabilities for understanding fire-related and fire-responsive earth system processes and patterns

Check it out

Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem

USGS has been a leader in sagebrush ecosystem research and continues to meet the priority science needs of management agencies. We bring a diversity of expertise and capabilities to address a wide variety of science needs at multiple spatial scales and are committed to providing high quality science to our management partners.

EMA Animal Welfare Assurance Website

Greater Sage-grouse Annotated Bibliography

A male sage-grouse struts his stuff on his native sage steppe.

Synthesizes the scientific literature published since records of decision were completed for 2015 BLM/USDA Forest Service land use plan amendments for greater sage-grouse, and provides potential management implications of the science.

See the report

Meet our lead scientists and team members

Wildlife Biologist Pete Coates on Threats to Greater Sage-grouse

Information about USGS principal investigators (PIs) working on sage-grouse or sagebrush ecosystem issues is available here.

Meet the PIs

Looking for more information?

two scientists working in a sagebrush experimental plot

We have put together a list of related resources and links for the sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem.

Find out more

News

link

Release of Invasive Annual Grass (IAG) Spatial Dataset Compilation and Synthesis Products

link

When Unchecked, Free-Roaming Horse Populations Threaten Greater Sage-Grouse

link

New Research Highlights Decline of Greater Sage-Grouse in the American West, Provides Roadmap to Aid Conservation

View All

Publications

Restoration handbook for sagebrush steppe ecosystems with emphasis on greater sage-grouse habitat—Part 2. Landscape level restoration decisions

Sagebrush steppe ecosystems in the United States currently (2015) occur on only about one-half of their historical land area because of changes in land use, urban growth, and degradation of land, including invasions of non-native plants. The existence of many animal species depends on the existence of sagebrush steppe habitat. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a landscape-depe
By
Ecosystems, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Large-scale control site selection for population monitoring: an example assessing Sage-grouse trends

Human impacts on wildlife populations are widespread and prolific and understanding wildlife responses to human impacts is a fundamental component of wildlife management. The first step to understanding wildlife responses is the documentation of changes in wildlife population parameters, such as population size. Meaningful assessment of population changes in potentially impacted sites requires the
By
Ecosystems, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, Fort Collins Science Center

Sagebrush ecosystems: current status and trends.

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome has changed since settlement by Europeans. The current distribution, composition and dynamics, and disturbance regimes of sagebrush ecosystems have been altered by interactions among disturbance, land use, and invasion of exotic plants. In this chapter, we present the dominant factors that have influenced habitats across the sagebrush biome. Using a large-scale
By
Ecosystems, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
View All

Science

link

Predicting Future Forage Conditions for Elk and Mule Deer in Montana and Wyoming

Improving the quality of habitat for western big-game species, such as elk and mule deer, was identified as a priority by the Department of the Interior in 2018. Maintaining healthy herds not only supports the ecosystems where these species are found, but also the hunting and wildlife watching communities. For example, in Wyoming, big game hunting contributed over $300 million to the state’s econo...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem
link

Predicting Future Forage Conditions for Elk and Mule Deer in Montana and Wyoming

Improving the quality of habitat for western big-game species, such as elk and mule deer, was identified as a priority by the Department of the Interior in 2018. Maintaining healthy herds not only supports the ecosystems where these species are found, but also the hunting and wildlife watching communities. For example, in Wyoming, big game hunting contributed over $300 million to the state’s econo...
Learn More
link
Seed drill on a restoration research site

Restoration of Shrub Steppe Ecosystems

This research theme provides land managers information to help them make restoration decision at local and landscape scales.
By
Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
link

Restoration of Shrub Steppe Ecosystems

This research theme provides land managers information to help them make restoration decision at local and landscape scales.
Learn More
link
Stream sampling in eastern Montana.

Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams

The Northern Great Plains of North America are a region of profound global importance because organisms that live in these semi-arid prairie environments have developed a unique ability to live through conditions of extreme heat, cold, floods, and drought. Prairie streams are essential components of these ecosystems because they provide critical “green lines” of habitat for both aquatic and...
By
Ecosystems, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
link

Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams

The Northern Great Plains of North America are a region of profound global importance because organisms that live in these semi-arid prairie environments have developed a unique ability to live through conditions of extreme heat, cold, floods, and drought. Prairie streams are essential components of these ecosystems because they provide critical “green lines” of habitat for both aquatic and...
Learn More
View All