Influence of fine-scale habitat characteristics on sage-grouse nest site selection and nest survival varies by mesic and xeric site conditions
Resource managers and scientists across western U.S. agencies seek methodologies for identifying environmental attributes important to both wildlife conservation and broad-scale land stewardship. The Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) exemplifies a species in need of this broad-scale approach given widespread population declines that have resulted from loss and degradation of habitat from natural and anthropogenic disturbances. These include agricultural land conversion, conifer expansion, energy development, and wildfire coupled with ecological conversion by invasive plants such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Development of habitat assessments and conservation actions for sage-grouse benefit from studies that link demographic responses to habitat selection patterns. To address this, we examined nest survival of sage-grouse in relation to fine-scale habitat patterns (i.e., field-based habitat measurements) that influenced nest site selection, using data from nests of telemetered females at 17 sites over 6 years in Nevada and northeastern California, USA. Importantly, sites spanned mesic and xeric average precipitation conditions that contributed substantially to vegetation community structure across cold desert ecosystems of the North American Great Basin. Vegetative cover immediately surrounding sage-grouse nests was important for both nest site selection and nest survival, but responses varied between mesic and xeric sites. For example, while taller perennial grasses were selected at xeric sites, we found no evidence of selection for perennial grass at mesic sites, indicating a functional response to availability of habitat features between hydrographic regions. Furthermore, perennial grass height and forb height both had positive effects on nest survival at xeric sites, but we found varying effects at mesic sites. We emphasize that precipitation conditions driving ecosystem productivity vary regionally among sagebrush communities, shaping vegetation structure and suitable habitat conditions for nesting sage-grouse.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Title | Influence of fine-scale habitat characteristics on sage-grouse nest site selection and nest survival varies by mesic and xeric site conditions |
| DOI | 10.1093/ornithapp/duac052 |
| Authors | Brianne E. Brussee, Peter S. Coates, Shawn T. O'Neil, Mark A. Ricca, Jonathan E. Dudko, Shawn P. Espinosa, Scott C. Gardner, Michael L. Casazza, David J. Delehanty |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Ornithological Applications |
| Index ID | 70240433 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Western Ecological Research Center |
Related Content
Influence of microhabitat characteristics on sage-grouse nest site selection and nest survival depends on ecological site potential
Code to Examine How the Influence of Fine-Scale Habitat Characteristics on Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Nest Site Selection and Nest Survival Varies by Mesic and Xeric Site Conditions version 1.0
Peter Coates
Research Wildlife Biologist
Shawn T O'Neil
Wildlife Biologist
Mark A Ricca
Research Manager
Michael Casazza
Research Wildlife Biologist
Related Content
- Data
Influence of microhabitat characteristics on sage-grouse nest site selection and nest survival depends on ecological site potential
We examined nest survival of Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) in relation to fine-scale habitat patterns that influenced nest site selection, using data from nests of telemetered females at 17 sites across 6 years in Nevada and northeastern California, USA. Importantly, sites spanned mesic and xeric average precipitation conditions and concomitant vegetation - Software
Code to Examine How the Influence of Fine-Scale Habitat Characteristics on Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Nest Site Selection and Nest Survival Varies by Mesic and Xeric Site Conditions version 1.0
This repository centralizes R code used to examine how the influence of fine-scale habitat characteristics on Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest site selection and nest survival varies by mesic and xeric site conditions, utilizing data collected from a wide range of study sites in Nevada and California, USA. The R script "nest_selection_model.R" provides code for a GLMM framewor - Connect
Peter Coates
Research Wildlife BiologistEmailPhoneShawn T O'Neil
Wildlife BiologistEmailMark A Ricca
Research ManagerEmailPhoneMichael Casazza
Research Wildlife BiologistEmailPhone