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Cali L Weise (Roth) (Former Employee)

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Leking Greater sage-grouse and pronghorn male, Twin Springs lek, NV

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Cheat Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to help inform current assessments of sage-grouse population trends at nested spatial and temporal scales. It is centered on four objectives: (1) create a standardized database of lek counts; (2) develop spatial population structures by clustering leks; (3) estimate spatial trends at different temporal...
By
Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Cheat Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Cheat Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to help inform current assessments of sage-grouse population trends at nested spatial and temporal scales. It is centered on four objectives: (1) create a standardized database of lek counts; (2) develop spatial population structures by clustering leks; (3) estimate spatial trends at different temporal...
Learn More
Greater sage-grouse silhouette.

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Targeted Annual Warning System Information Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Targeted Annual Warning System Information Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Targeted Annual Warning System Information Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
Learn More
two birds flapping their wings at each other in a field of sagebrush

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Glossary of Terms

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Glossary of Terms

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Glossary of Terms

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
Learn More
a male greater sage-grouse with ruffled feathers stands in sagebrush

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
Learn More
Photo of a lone female Greater Sage-grouse in a field.

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework Data Inputs Information Sheet

To support management decisions, western state wildlife agencies identified the need for a range-wide database that tracks annual counts of greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) at leks (breeding sites), recorded since the early 1950s. Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) worked with state wildlife agencies to 1) construct this...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework Data Inputs Information Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework Data Inputs Information Sheet

To support management decisions, western state wildlife agencies identified the need for a range-wide database that tracks annual counts of greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) at leks (breeding sites), recorded since the early 1950s. Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) worked with state wildlife agencies to 1) construct this...
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Image: Greater Sage Grouse

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework

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. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and state wildlife agencies to develop a...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework

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. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and state wildlife agencies to develop a...
Learn More
a bird with feathers splayed flies through a blue sky

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Trends Analysis Information Sheet

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Accurately assessing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) population trends can be difficult because (1) missing lek counts or incomplete repeat counts, (2) variation in counts of sage-grouse from...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Trends Analysis Information Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Trends Analysis Information Sheet

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Accurately assessing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) population trends can be difficult because (1) missing lek counts or incomplete repeat counts, (2) variation in counts of sage-grouse from...
Learn More
screenshot of an application containing app title, logos and an image of sage-grouse

A user-friendly decision support tool for monitoring and managing greater sage-grouse populations

Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with BLM and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring framework for managing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) populations and the sagebrush ecosystems that they depend upon for survival and reproduction. This hierarchical population monitoring strategy now...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
A user-friendly decision support tool for monitoring and managing greater sage-grouse populations

A user-friendly decision support tool for monitoring and managing greater sage-grouse populations

Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with BLM and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring framework for managing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) populations and the sagebrush ecosystems that they depend upon for survival and reproduction. This hierarchical population monitoring strategy now...
Learn More
photo of multiple larger birds displaying in brush

Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments

Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
Learn More
Greater sage-grouse in Wyoming.

A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations

A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
Learn More
four horses standing in sagebrush looking at camera

Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)

USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of wild horse and livestock records across the greater sage-grouse range to investigate impacts on vegetation and wildlife (specifically, sage-grouse and songbirds). Researchers will use these results to evaluate Appropriate Management Levels for wild horse and burros, and projections of vegetation productivity under changing conditions.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Change Science Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)

Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)

USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of wild horse and livestock records across the greater sage-grouse range to investigate impacts on vegetation and wildlife (specifically, sage-grouse and songbirds). Researchers will use these results to evaluate Appropriate Management Levels for wild horse and burros, and projections of vegetation productivity under changing conditions.
Learn More
Photo of a lone female Greater Sage-grouse in a field.

Hierarchical Units of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Informing Wildlife Management

Wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context, such as information on habitat resource availability and wildlife movements. To address this, we developed multiple levels of biologically relevant and hierarchically nested greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) population units that could facilitate management and conservation of populations and habitats.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
Hierarchical Units of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Informing Wildlife Management

Hierarchical Units of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Informing Wildlife Management

Wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context, such as information on habitat resource availability and wildlife movements. To address this, we developed multiple levels of biologically relevant and hierarchically nested greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) population units that could facilitate management and conservation of populations and habitats.
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Cattle Habitat Selection Index for the Great Basin region in the western United States Cattle Habitat Selection Index for the Great Basin region in the western United States

We collected cattle GPS location data within three sites across the Great Basin ecoregion. We then coupled these data with multi-resolution remotely sensed vegetation, hydrology, and topographic data to develop a cattle resource selection surface across Nevada and northeastern California. This layer can support grazing management through targeted or rotational grazing by providing a...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Current linear fuel breaks in the sagebrush biome of the western United States (2020) attributed with relevant environmental variables Current linear fuel breaks in the sagebrush biome of the western United States (2020) attributed with relevant environmental variables

Unprecedented wildfire frequency fueled by invasive annual grasses threatens sagebrush habitats. To suppress fire and conserve sagebrush, land management agencies have installed ~10,000 km of fuel breaks across the sagebrush ecosystem. The ecological risks and benefits of creating fuel breaks for wildfire suppression are unquantified but must be balanced to avoid accelerating sagebrush...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018 Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018

To better inform fuel break planning and assessment, we developed a comprehensive spatial database of known existing fuel breaks from 1953 to 2018 throughout the western United States. Each fuel break is represented as a polygon in the database and is attributed with the date of installation, the treatment type employed, and the data source. The availability of these data promotes the...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse

The Bi-State conservation planning tool provides a science-based approach for prioritizing pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis), hereafter, 'conifer', removal to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2010). Conifer negatively affects sage...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Predictive Maps of Fuel Break Effectiveness by Treatment Type and Underlying Resilience to Disturbance and Resistance to Invasion Across the Western U.S. Predictive Maps of Fuel Break Effectiveness by Treatment Type and Underlying Resilience to Disturbance and Resistance to Invasion Across the Western U.S.

Escalated wildfire activity within the western U.S. has widespread societal impacts and long-term consequences for the imperiled sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome. Shifts from historical fire regimes and the interplay between frequent disturbance and invasive annual grasses may initiate permanent state transitions as wildfire frequency outpaces sagebrush communities' innate capacity to...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

rsgis v1.0 rsgis v1.0

rsgis: A package to facilitate greater sage-grouse management in the western US The rsgis package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) management applications, including important habitat and breeding areas for sage-grouse and political/regional boundaries. To cite the...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

raventools v1.0 raventools v1.0

raventools: A package to facilitate raven management in the western U.S. The raventools package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for common raven (Corvus corax) management applications, including raven occurrence and density data, sensitive species distribution data, raven subsidy data, and Greater sage-grouse...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Sagebrush Restoration Following Fire Disturbance in the Virginia Mountains, Nevada (2018) Sagebrush Restoration Following Fire Disturbance in the Virginia Mountains, Nevada (2018)

We developed a framework that strategically targets burned areas for restoration actions (e.g., seeding or planting sagebrush) that have the greatest potential to positively benefit Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) populations through time. Specifically, we estimated sagebrush (Artemisia Spp.) recovery following wildfire and risk of non-native annual...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT)

The Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) supports a science-based adaptive management framework that incorporates recent quantitative analyses and mapping products for addressing areas with elevated common raven (Corvus corax) numbers and minimizing potential adverse impacts to sensitive species, agricultural damage, and human safety (Dettenmaier et al. 2021). This is a web...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Geospatial Data for Object-Based High-Resolution Classification of Conifers within Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat across Nevada and a Portion of Northeastern California (ver. 2.0, July 2018) Geospatial Data for Object-Based High-Resolution Classification of Conifers within Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat across Nevada and a Portion of Northeastern California (ver. 2.0, July 2018)

These products were developed to provide scientific and correspondingly spatially explicit information regarding the distribution and abundance of conifers (namely, singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)) in Nevada and portions of northeastern California. Encroachment of these trees into sagebrush...
By
Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat: dataset of BBS data, ND, with habitat rankings Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat: dataset of BBS data, ND, with habitat rankings

This dataset is North American Breeding Bird Survey bird-count data for the routes and stops in North Dakota, USA, in which ten mixed-grass-prairie-endemic species occurred, as well as the mean habitat-quality ranking scores derived from applying the Habitat Quality Module of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) to spatial layers for landuse/landcover...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Geospatial data for object-based high-resolution classification of conifers within the geographic range of the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater sage-grouse in California and Nevada Geospatial data for object-based high-resolution classification of conifers within the geographic range of the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater sage-grouse in California and Nevada

These products were developed to provide scientific and correspondingly spatially explicit information regarding the distribution and abundance of conifers (namely, singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)) in Nevada and portions of northeastern California. Encroachment of these trees into sagebrush...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
No results found.

Targeting sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) restoration following wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest selection and survival models Targeting sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) restoration following wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest selection and survival models

Unprecedented conservation efforts for sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems across the western United States have been catalyzed by risks from escalated wildfire activity that reduces habitat for sagebrush-obligate species such as Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). However, post-fire restoration is challenged by spatial variation in ecosystem processes influencing...
Authors
Cali Roth, Shawn O’Neil, Peter Coates, Mark Ricca, David Pyke, Cameron Aldridge, Julie Heinrichs, Shawn Espinosa, David Delehanty
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

SMaRT: A science-based tiered framework for common ravens SMaRT: A science-based tiered framework for common ravens

Large-scale increases and expansion of common raven (Corvus corax; raven) populations are occurring across much of North America, leading to increased negative consequences for livestock and agriculture, human health and safety, and sensitive species conservation. We describe a science-based adaptive management framework that incorporates recent quantitative analyses and mapping products...
Authors
Seth Dettenmaier, Peter Coates, Cali Roth, Sarah Webster, Shawn O’Neil, Kerry Holcomb, John Tull, Pat Jackson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

A customized framework for regional classification of conifers using automated feature extraction A customized framework for regional classification of conifers using automated feature extraction

Pinyon and juniper expansion into sagebrush ecosystems is one of the major challenges facing land managers in the Great Basin. Effective pinyon and juniper treatment requires maps that accurately and precisely depict tree location and degree of woodland development so managers can target restoration efforts for early stages of pinyon and juniper expansion. However, available remotely...
Authors
Cali Roth, Peter Coates, K. Gustafson, Michael Chenaille, Mark Ricca, Erika Sanchez-Chopitea, Michael Casazza
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Modeling the supporting ecosystem services of depressional wetlands Modeling the supporting ecosystem services of depressional wetlands

We explored how a geographic information system modeling approach could be used to quantify supporting ecosystem services related to the type, abundance, and distribution of landscape components. Specifically, we use the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs model to quantify habitats that support amphibians and birds, floral resources that support pollinators, native...
Authors
David Mushet, Cali Roth
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat

Birds are essential components of most ecosystems and provide many services valued by society. However, many populations have undergone striking declines as their habitats have been lost or degraded by human activities. Terrestrial grasslands are vital habitat for birds in the North American Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), but grassland conversion and fragmentation from agriculture and...
Authors
Jill Shaffer, Cali Roth, David Mushet
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

The influence of spatiotemporally decoupled land use on honey bee colony health and pollination service delivery The influence of spatiotemporally decoupled land use on honey bee colony health and pollination service delivery

Societal dependence on insects for pollination of agricultural crops has risen amidst concerns over pollinator declines. Habitat loss and lack of forage have been implicated in the decline of both managed and native pollinators. Land use changes in the Northern Great Plains of the US, a region supporting over 1 million honey bee colonies annually, have shifted away from historical...
Authors
Matthew Smart, Clint Otto, Benjamin Carlson, Cali Roth
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Using object-based image analysis to conduct high-resolution conifer extraction at regional spatial scales Using object-based image analysis to conduct high-resolution conifer extraction at regional spatial scales

The distribution and abundance of pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis) trees (hereinafter, "pinyon-juniper") in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems of the Great Basin in the Western United States has increased substantially since the late 1800s. Distributional expansion and infill of pinyon-juniper into sagebrush ecosystems threatens the...
Authors
Peter Coates, K. Gustafson, Cali L. Roth, Michael P. Chenaille, Mark Ricca, Kimberly Mauch, Erika Sanchez-Chopitea, Travis Kroger, William Perry, Michael Casazza
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Land-use change reduces habitat suitability for supporting managed honey bee colonies in the Northern Great Plains Land-use change reduces habitat suitability for supporting managed honey bee colonies in the Northern Great Plains

Human reliance on insect pollination services continues to increase even as pollinator populations exhibit global declines. Increased commodity crop prices and federal subsidies for biofuel crops, such as corn and soybeans, have contributed to rapid land-use change in the US Northern Great Plains (NGP), changes that may jeopardize habitat for honey bees in a part of the country that...
Authors
Clint Otto, Cali Roth, Benjamin Carlson, Matthew Smart
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Grazing Management Tool (GMT) Grazing Management Tool (GMT)

A Data Visualization and Decision Support Tool for Building and Conserving Ecological Resilience through Results-Oriented Grazing
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse 1.0.0 Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse 1.0.0

A decision support tool for conifer treatment to restore greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat within the Bi-State, California and Nevada, area. This tool provides a science-based approach for prioritizing pinyon and juniper removal to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Grazing Management Tool Grazing Management Tool

Science-based grazing management is crucial to preserving and improving rangeland productivity and sagebrush ecosystem health. By adjusting the timing, duration, frequency, and intensity of grazing, managers can contribute to ecosystem services such as fuel reduction and invasive annual grass control. They can also utilize rotational grazing to minimize or mitigate impacts on sensitive...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Geofetch Geofetch

geofetch is an R package that provides an interface for interacting with online rasters. By making use of drivers from the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) for accessing online rasters, it facilitates efficient raster operations by only retrieving data that falls in the user-specified area of interest. The package is built so that adding interfaces to new datasets is simple...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse

The Bi-State conservation planning tool provides a science-based approach for prioritizing pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis), hereafter, 'conifer', removal to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2010). Conifer negatively affects sage...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

raventools v1.0 raventools v1.0

raventools: A package to facilitate raven management in the western U.S. The raventools package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for common raven (Corvus corax) management applications, including raven occurrence and density data, sensitive species distribution data, raven subsidy data, and Greater sage-grouse...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

rsgis v1.0 rsgis v1.0

rsgis: A package to facilitate greater sage-grouse management in the western US The rsgis package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) management applications, including important habitat and breeding areas for sage-grouse and political/regional boundaries. To cite the...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT)

The Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) supports a science-based adaptive management framework that incorporates recent quantitative analyses and mapping products for addressing areas with elevated common raven (Corvus corax) numbers and minimizing potential adverse impacts to sensitive species, agricultural damage, and human safety (Dettenmaier et al. 2021). This is a web...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome

Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome

Fuel breaks – strips of land managed for reduced flammability – are designed to aid wildfire suppression and management. However, construction of fuel...

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Science and Products

Leking Greater sage-grouse and pronghorn male, Twin Springs lek, NV

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Cheat Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to help inform current assessments of sage-grouse population trends at nested spatial and temporal scales. It is centered on four objectives: (1) create a standardized database of lek counts; (2) develop spatial population structures by clustering leks; (3) estimate spatial trends at different temporal...
By
Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Cheat Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Cheat Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to help inform current assessments of sage-grouse population trends at nested spatial and temporal scales. It is centered on four objectives: (1) create a standardized database of lek counts; (2) develop spatial population structures by clustering leks; (3) estimate spatial trends at different temporal...
Learn More
Greater sage-grouse silhouette.

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Targeted Annual Warning System Information Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Targeted Annual Warning System Information Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Targeted Annual Warning System Information Sheet

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
Learn More
two birds flapping their wings at each other in a field of sagebrush

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Glossary of Terms

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Glossary of Terms

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Glossary of Terms

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
Learn More
a male greater sage-grouse with ruffled feathers stands in sagebrush

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Frequently Asked Questions

The Greater Sage-grouse Population Monitoring Framework fills a prominent information gap to aid current assessments of sage-grouse population trends across spatial and temporal scales. It centers on four objectives: 1) create a standardized database of lek counts; 2) cluster leks to develop spatial population structures; 3) estimate spatial trends across temporal extents; and 4) develop a system...
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Photo of a lone female Greater Sage-grouse in a field.

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework Data Inputs Information Sheet

To support management decisions, western state wildlife agencies identified the need for a range-wide database that tracks annual counts of greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) at leks (breeding sites), recorded since the early 1950s. Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) worked with state wildlife agencies to 1) construct this...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework Data Inputs Information Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework Data Inputs Information Sheet

To support management decisions, western state wildlife agencies identified the need for a range-wide database that tracks annual counts of greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) at leks (breeding sites), recorded since the early 1950s. Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) worked with state wildlife agencies to 1) construct this...
Learn More
Image: Greater Sage Grouse

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework

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. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and state wildlife agencies to develop a...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework

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. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and state wildlife agencies to develop a...
Learn More
a bird with feathers splayed flies through a blue sky

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Trends Analysis Information Sheet

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Accurately assessing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) population trends can be difficult because (1) missing lek counts or incomplete repeat counts, (2) variation in counts of sage-grouse from...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Trends Analysis Information Sheet

Greater Sage-Grouse Population Monitoring Framework: Trends Analysis Information Sheet

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Accurately assessing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) population trends can be difficult because (1) missing lek counts or incomplete repeat counts, (2) variation in counts of sage-grouse from...
Learn More
screenshot of an application containing app title, logos and an image of sage-grouse

A user-friendly decision support tool for monitoring and managing greater sage-grouse populations

Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with BLM and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring framework for managing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) populations and the sagebrush ecosystems that they depend upon for survival and reproduction. This hierarchical population monitoring strategy now...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
A user-friendly decision support tool for monitoring and managing greater sage-grouse populations

A user-friendly decision support tool for monitoring and managing greater sage-grouse populations

Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with BLM and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring framework for managing greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) populations and the sagebrush ecosystems that they depend upon for survival and reproduction. This hierarchical population monitoring strategy now...
Learn More
photo of multiple larger birds displaying in brush

Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments

Estimating trends for greater sage-grouse populations within highly stochastic environments

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
Learn More
Greater sage-grouse in Wyoming.

A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations

A targeted annual warning system (TAWS) for identifying aberrant declines in greater sage-grouse populations

Land and wildlife managers require accurate estimates of sensitive species’ trends to help guide conservation decisions that maintain biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems. Researchers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Colorado State University (CSU) worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State Wildlife Agencies to develop a hierarchical population monitoring...
Learn More
four horses standing in sagebrush looking at camera

Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)

USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of wild horse and livestock records across the greater sage-grouse range to investigate impacts on vegetation and wildlife (specifically, sage-grouse and songbirds). Researchers will use these results to evaluate Appropriate Management Levels for wild horse and burros, and projections of vegetation productivity under changing conditions.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Change Science Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)

Wild horse and livestock influences on vegetation and wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems: Implications for refining and validating Appropriate Management Level (AML)

USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of wild horse and livestock records across the greater sage-grouse range to investigate impacts on vegetation and wildlife (specifically, sage-grouse and songbirds). Researchers will use these results to evaluate Appropriate Management Levels for wild horse and burros, and projections of vegetation productivity under changing conditions.
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Photo of a lone female Greater Sage-grouse in a field.

Hierarchical Units of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Informing Wildlife Management

Wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context, such as information on habitat resource availability and wildlife movements. To address this, we developed multiple levels of biologically relevant and hierarchically nested greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) population units that could facilitate management and conservation of populations and habitats.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
Hierarchical Units of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Informing Wildlife Management

Hierarchical Units of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Informing Wildlife Management

Wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context, such as information on habitat resource availability and wildlife movements. To address this, we developed multiple levels of biologically relevant and hierarchically nested greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) population units that could facilitate management and conservation of populations and habitats.
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Cattle Habitat Selection Index for the Great Basin region in the western United States Cattle Habitat Selection Index for the Great Basin region in the western United States

We collected cattle GPS location data within three sites across the Great Basin ecoregion. We then coupled these data with multi-resolution remotely sensed vegetation, hydrology, and topographic data to develop a cattle resource selection surface across Nevada and northeastern California. This layer can support grazing management through targeted or rotational grazing by providing a...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Current linear fuel breaks in the sagebrush biome of the western United States (2020) attributed with relevant environmental variables Current linear fuel breaks in the sagebrush biome of the western United States (2020) attributed with relevant environmental variables

Unprecedented wildfire frequency fueled by invasive annual grasses threatens sagebrush habitats. To suppress fire and conserve sagebrush, land management agencies have installed ~10,000 km of fuel breaks across the sagebrush ecosystem. The ecological risks and benefits of creating fuel breaks for wildfire suppression are unquantified but must be balanced to avoid accelerating sagebrush...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018 Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018

To better inform fuel break planning and assessment, we developed a comprehensive spatial database of known existing fuel breaks from 1953 to 2018 throughout the western United States. Each fuel break is represented as a polygon in the database and is attributed with the date of installation, the treatment type employed, and the data source. The availability of these data promotes the...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse

The Bi-State conservation planning tool provides a science-based approach for prioritizing pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis), hereafter, 'conifer', removal to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2010). Conifer negatively affects sage...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Predictive Maps of Fuel Break Effectiveness by Treatment Type and Underlying Resilience to Disturbance and Resistance to Invasion Across the Western U.S. Predictive Maps of Fuel Break Effectiveness by Treatment Type and Underlying Resilience to Disturbance and Resistance to Invasion Across the Western U.S.

Escalated wildfire activity within the western U.S. has widespread societal impacts and long-term consequences for the imperiled sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome. Shifts from historical fire regimes and the interplay between frequent disturbance and invasive annual grasses may initiate permanent state transitions as wildfire frequency outpaces sagebrush communities' innate capacity to...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

rsgis v1.0 rsgis v1.0

rsgis: A package to facilitate greater sage-grouse management in the western US The rsgis package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) management applications, including important habitat and breeding areas for sage-grouse and political/regional boundaries. To cite the...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

raventools v1.0 raventools v1.0

raventools: A package to facilitate raven management in the western U.S. The raventools package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for common raven (Corvus corax) management applications, including raven occurrence and density data, sensitive species distribution data, raven subsidy data, and Greater sage-grouse...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Sagebrush Restoration Following Fire Disturbance in the Virginia Mountains, Nevada (2018) Sagebrush Restoration Following Fire Disturbance in the Virginia Mountains, Nevada (2018)

We developed a framework that strategically targets burned areas for restoration actions (e.g., seeding or planting sagebrush) that have the greatest potential to positively benefit Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) populations through time. Specifically, we estimated sagebrush (Artemisia Spp.) recovery following wildfire and risk of non-native annual...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT)

The Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) supports a science-based adaptive management framework that incorporates recent quantitative analyses and mapping products for addressing areas with elevated common raven (Corvus corax) numbers and minimizing potential adverse impacts to sensitive species, agricultural damage, and human safety (Dettenmaier et al. 2021). This is a web...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Geospatial Data for Object-Based High-Resolution Classification of Conifers within Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat across Nevada and a Portion of Northeastern California (ver. 2.0, July 2018) Geospatial Data for Object-Based High-Resolution Classification of Conifers within Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat across Nevada and a Portion of Northeastern California (ver. 2.0, July 2018)

These products were developed to provide scientific and correspondingly spatially explicit information regarding the distribution and abundance of conifers (namely, singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)) in Nevada and portions of northeastern California. Encroachment of these trees into sagebrush...
By
Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat: dataset of BBS data, ND, with habitat rankings Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat: dataset of BBS data, ND, with habitat rankings

This dataset is North American Breeding Bird Survey bird-count data for the routes and stops in North Dakota, USA, in which ten mixed-grass-prairie-endemic species occurred, as well as the mean habitat-quality ranking scores derived from applying the Habitat Quality Module of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) to spatial layers for landuse/landcover...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Geospatial data for object-based high-resolution classification of conifers within the geographic range of the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater sage-grouse in California and Nevada Geospatial data for object-based high-resolution classification of conifers within the geographic range of the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater sage-grouse in California and Nevada

These products were developed to provide scientific and correspondingly spatially explicit information regarding the distribution and abundance of conifers (namely, singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)) in Nevada and portions of northeastern California. Encroachment of these trees into sagebrush...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Targeting sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) restoration following wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest selection and survival models Targeting sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) restoration following wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest selection and survival models

Unprecedented conservation efforts for sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems across the western United States have been catalyzed by risks from escalated wildfire activity that reduces habitat for sagebrush-obligate species such as Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). However, post-fire restoration is challenged by spatial variation in ecosystem processes influencing...
Authors
Cali Roth, Shawn O’Neil, Peter Coates, Mark Ricca, David Pyke, Cameron Aldridge, Julie Heinrichs, Shawn Espinosa, David Delehanty
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

SMaRT: A science-based tiered framework for common ravens SMaRT: A science-based tiered framework for common ravens

Large-scale increases and expansion of common raven (Corvus corax; raven) populations are occurring across much of North America, leading to increased negative consequences for livestock and agriculture, human health and safety, and sensitive species conservation. We describe a science-based adaptive management framework that incorporates recent quantitative analyses and mapping products...
Authors
Seth Dettenmaier, Peter Coates, Cali Roth, Sarah Webster, Shawn O’Neil, Kerry Holcomb, John Tull, Pat Jackson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

A customized framework for regional classification of conifers using automated feature extraction A customized framework for regional classification of conifers using automated feature extraction

Pinyon and juniper expansion into sagebrush ecosystems is one of the major challenges facing land managers in the Great Basin. Effective pinyon and juniper treatment requires maps that accurately and precisely depict tree location and degree of woodland development so managers can target restoration efforts for early stages of pinyon and juniper expansion. However, available remotely...
Authors
Cali Roth, Peter Coates, K. Gustafson, Michael Chenaille, Mark Ricca, Erika Sanchez-Chopitea, Michael Casazza
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Modeling the supporting ecosystem services of depressional wetlands Modeling the supporting ecosystem services of depressional wetlands

We explored how a geographic information system modeling approach could be used to quantify supporting ecosystem services related to the type, abundance, and distribution of landscape components. Specifically, we use the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs model to quantify habitats that support amphibians and birds, floral resources that support pollinators, native...
Authors
David Mushet, Cali Roth
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat

Birds are essential components of most ecosystems and provide many services valued by society. However, many populations have undergone striking declines as their habitats have been lost or degraded by human activities. Terrestrial grasslands are vital habitat for birds in the North American Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), but grassland conversion and fragmentation from agriculture and...
Authors
Jill Shaffer, Cali Roth, David Mushet
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

The influence of spatiotemporally decoupled land use on honey bee colony health and pollination service delivery The influence of spatiotemporally decoupled land use on honey bee colony health and pollination service delivery

Societal dependence on insects for pollination of agricultural crops has risen amidst concerns over pollinator declines. Habitat loss and lack of forage have been implicated in the decline of both managed and native pollinators. Land use changes in the Northern Great Plains of the US, a region supporting over 1 million honey bee colonies annually, have shifted away from historical...
Authors
Matthew Smart, Clint Otto, Benjamin Carlson, Cali Roth
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Using object-based image analysis to conduct high-resolution conifer extraction at regional spatial scales Using object-based image analysis to conduct high-resolution conifer extraction at regional spatial scales

The distribution and abundance of pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis) trees (hereinafter, "pinyon-juniper") in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems of the Great Basin in the Western United States has increased substantially since the late 1800s. Distributional expansion and infill of pinyon-juniper into sagebrush ecosystems threatens the...
Authors
Peter Coates, K. Gustafson, Cali L. Roth, Michael P. Chenaille, Mark Ricca, Kimberly Mauch, Erika Sanchez-Chopitea, Travis Kroger, William Perry, Michael Casazza
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Land-use change reduces habitat suitability for supporting managed honey bee colonies in the Northern Great Plains Land-use change reduces habitat suitability for supporting managed honey bee colonies in the Northern Great Plains

Human reliance on insect pollination services continues to increase even as pollinator populations exhibit global declines. Increased commodity crop prices and federal subsidies for biofuel crops, such as corn and soybeans, have contributed to rapid land-use change in the US Northern Great Plains (NGP), changes that may jeopardize habitat for honey bees in a part of the country that...
Authors
Clint Otto, Cali Roth, Benjamin Carlson, Matthew Smart
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Grazing Management Tool (GMT) Grazing Management Tool (GMT)

A Data Visualization and Decision Support Tool for Building and Conserving Ecological Resilience through Results-Oriented Grazing
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse 1.0.0 Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse 1.0.0

A decision support tool for conifer treatment to restore greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat within the Bi-State, California and Nevada, area. This tool provides a science-based approach for prioritizing pinyon and juniper removal to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment.
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Grazing Management Tool Grazing Management Tool

Science-based grazing management is crucial to preserving and improving rangeland productivity and sagebrush ecosystem health. By adjusting the timing, duration, frequency, and intensity of grazing, managers can contribute to ecosystem services such as fuel reduction and invasive annual grass control. They can also utilize rotational grazing to minimize or mitigate impacts on sensitive...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Geofetch Geofetch

geofetch is an R package that provides an interface for interacting with online rasters. By making use of drivers from the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) for accessing online rasters, it facilitates efficient raster operations by only retrieving data that falls in the user-specified area of interest. The package is built so that adding interfaces to new datasets is simple...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Planning Tool for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse

The Bi-State conservation planning tool provides a science-based approach for prioritizing pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis), hereafter, 'conifer', removal to improve habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2010). Conifer negatively affects sage...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

raventools v1.0 raventools v1.0

raventools: A package to facilitate raven management in the western U.S. The raventools package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for common raven (Corvus corax) management applications, including raven occurrence and density data, sensitive species distribution data, raven subsidy data, and Greater sage-grouse...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

rsgis v1.0 rsgis v1.0

rsgis: A package to facilitate greater sage-grouse management in the western US The rsgis package centralizes several publicly available geospatial datasets that are essential to mapping and modeling for Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) management applications, including important habitat and breeding areas for sage-grouse and political/regional boundaries. To cite the...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT)

The Science-based Management of Ravens Tool (SMaRT) supports a science-based adaptive management framework that incorporates recent quantitative analyses and mapping products for addressing areas with elevated common raven (Corvus corax) numbers and minimizing potential adverse impacts to sensitive species, agricultural damage, and human safety (Dettenmaier et al. 2021). This is a web...
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome

Ecological benefits and risks of fuel breaks vary across the sagebrush biome

Fuel breaks – strips of land managed for reduced flammability – are designed to aid wildfire suppression and management. However, construction of fuel...

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