Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2022
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are at the center of state and national land-use policies largely because of their unique life-history traits as an ecological indicator for health of sagebrush ecosystems. This updated population trend analysis provides state and federal land and wildlife managers with best-available science to help guide current management and conservation plans aimed at benefitting sage-grouse populations. This analysis relied on previously published population trend modeling methodology from Coates and others (2021, 2022a) and incorporated population lek count data through 2022. Bayesian state-space models estimated 2.9 percent average annual decline in sage-grouse populations across their geographical range, which varied among subpopulations at the largest scale of analysis, termed climate clusters (2.2–4.7). Cumulative declines were 40.9, 65.0, and 79.6 percent range-wide across short (19 years), medium (35 years), and long (55 years) temporal periods, respectively. These results indicate that the most recent nadir for range-wide populations occurred during 2021. However, growth during 2022 was modest, making 2021 a tentative final nadir at this point.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Title | Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2022 |
| DOI | 10.3133/dr1175 |
| Authors | Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael S. O'Donnell, David R. Edmunds, Adrian P. Monroe, Steve E. Hanser, Lief A. Wiechman, Michael P. Chenaille |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Data Report |
| Series Number | 1175 |
| Index ID | dr1175 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Western Ecological Research Center |
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Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are at the center of state and national land use policies largely because of their unique life-history traits as an ecological indicator for health of sagebrush ecosystems. These data represent an updated population trend analysis and Targeted Annual Warning System (TAWS) for state and federal land and wildlife managers to use best-available science - Connect
Peter Coates
Research Wildlife BiologistEmailPhoneCameron L Aldridge, PhD
Branch Chief / Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhone