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Steven E Hanser

Since 2019, Steve has served as the Deputy Center Director of the Fort Collins Science Center. 

Before his current position at the Fort Collins Science Center, Steve was the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program Specialist in the Ecosystems Mission Area where he led the USGS effort to provide research and technical assistance on sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem management to the Department of the Interior, DOI bureaus, State wildlife agencies, and other partners. This work focused on inter-agency coordination, setting multi-agency research priorities, developing high-profile information syntheses, increasing outreach and communication opportunities, and improving multi-agency data sharing tools. Prior to his position in Reston, Steve spent 13 years working in the field at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Boise, ID where he focused on using geospatial tools and field-based measures to improve the understanding of the multi-scale environmental drivers of wildlife populations.

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Professional Experience

  • Deputy Center Director, Fort Collins Science Center, U. S. Geological Survey, Ft. Collins, CO: June 2019 - Present

  • Chief, Invasive Species Science Branch (Acting), U. S. Geological Survey, Ft. Collins, CO: July 2022 - Present

  • Chief, Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics Research Branch (Acting), U. S. Geological Survey, Ft. Collins, CO: July 2019 - January 2022

  • Chief, Decision Support Science and Tools Branch (Acting), U. S. Geological Survey, Ft. Collins, CO: April 2019 - June 2020

  • Sagebrush Ecosystem Program Specialist (Acting), U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA: June 2019 - Sept 2019

  • Sagebrush Ecosystem Program Specialist, U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA: January 2015 – June 2019

  • Wildland Fire Science Coordinator (Acting), U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA: July 2014 - Oct 2014

  • Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Boise, ID: 2002-2015

  • Biological Science Technician, , U.S. Geological Survey, Boise, ID: 2002

  • GIS Intern, City of Pocatello, Pocatello, ID: 2002

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID: 1999–2002

  • Research Technician, Iowa State University, Ames, IA: 1998-1999

  • Undergraduate Research Assistant, Iowa Cooperative Research Unit, Ames, IA: 1998-1999

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Biology, Idaho State University, 2002

  • Geotechnologies Post-baccalaureate Certification, Idaho State University, 2002

  • B.S. Biology, Iowa State University, 1999

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 15
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Pygmy rabbit

Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers

Resource management decisions need to be informed by up-to-date, quality science and data. However there is sometimes an overwhelming number of scientific publications for managers to consider in their decisions. This project provides concise summaries of recent, peer-reviewed science and data products about different resources and topics of management concern, integrated into a searchable tool.
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers

Resource management decisions need to be informed by up-to-date, quality science and data. However there is sometimes an overwhelming number of scientific publications for managers to consider in their decisions. This project provides concise summaries of recent, peer-reviewed science and data products about different resources and topics of management concern, integrated into a searchable tool.
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Cow in field

Providing a Climate Science Foundation for Updating the Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy Actionable Science Plan

The long-term success of management efforts in sagebrush habitats are increasingly complicated by the impacts of a changing climate throughout the western United States. These complications are most evident in the ongoing challenges of drought and altered rangeland fire regimes resulting from the establishment of nonnative annual grasses. The Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy recognize
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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Providing a Climate Science Foundation for Updating the Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy Actionable Science Plan

The long-term success of management efforts in sagebrush habitats are increasingly complicated by the impacts of a changing climate throughout the western United States. These complications are most evident in the ongoing challenges of drought and altered rangeland fire regimes resulting from the establishment of nonnative annual grasses. The Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy recognize
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Five mule deer stare at the camera as they stand in a field of dry sagebrush

Contributions to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy

USGS scientists are contributing to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy, a strategy intended to provide guidance so that efforts to conserve the iconic greater sage-grouse can be expanded to the entire sagebrush biome to benefit the people and wildlife that depend on it.
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Contributions to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy

USGS scientists are contributing to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy, a strategy intended to provide guidance so that efforts to conserve the iconic greater sage-grouse can be expanded to the entire sagebrush biome to benefit the people and wildlife that depend on it.
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Greater Sage-grouse in the sunlight

Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse

The greater sage-grouse has been a focus of scientific investigation and management action for the past two decades. The sheer number of scientific publications can be a challenge for managers tasked with evaluating and determining the need for potential updates to existing planning documents.
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Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse

The greater sage-grouse has been a focus of scientific investigation and management action for the past two decades. The sheer number of scientific publications can be a challenge for managers tasked with evaluating and determining the need for potential updates to existing planning documents.
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Sunset over a mountainous study site in central Oregon, showing sagebrush and western juniper

A Climate Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Data-Poor Species

Assessing vulnerability to climate change is a key step in anticipating climate impacts on species.
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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A Climate Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Data-Poor Species

Assessing vulnerability to climate change is a key step in anticipating climate impacts on species.
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Image: Loch Vale Watershed

A Climate Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Data-Poor Species

Assessing the vulnerability of species to climate change is a key step in anticipating climate impacts on species. Vulnerability assessments characterize species’ future conservation needs and can guide current planning and management actions to support species persistence in the face of climate change. A full assessment of climate vulnerability involves characterizing three essential components:
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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A Climate Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Data-Poor Species

Assessing the vulnerability of species to climate change is a key step in anticipating climate impacts on species. Vulnerability assessments characterize species’ future conservation needs and can guide current planning and management actions to support species persistence in the face of climate change. A full assessment of climate vulnerability involves characterizing three essential components:
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The greater sage grouse thrives in the sagebrush landscape of the West.

Greater Sage-Grouse Science (2015–17): Synthesis and Potential Management Implications

USGS led an interagency team of Federal and State agency biologists to develop a report that synthesizes greater sage-grouse scientific literature.
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Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Greater Sage-Grouse Science (2015–17): Synthesis and Potential Management Implications

USGS led an interagency team of Federal and State agency biologists to develop a report that synthesizes greater sage-grouse scientific literature.
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Energy development in the west.

Smart Energy Development: Tools for Informed Development & Successful Reclamation

The USGS is developing science and decision support tools to inform policy and management decisions about various aspects of the energy development life cycle.
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Fort Collins Science Center
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Smart Energy Development: Tools for Informed Development & Successful Reclamation

The USGS is developing science and decision support tools to inform policy and management decisions about various aspects of the energy development life cycle.
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Sage-grouse on a lek

SageDAT: Data and Tools To Support Collaborative Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management

The USGS, the BLM, the FWS, and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies have developed of a new DOI-funded effort, known as SageDAT.
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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SageDAT: Data and Tools To Support Collaborative Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management

The USGS, the BLM, the FWS, and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies have developed of a new DOI-funded effort, known as SageDAT.
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This is the Adobe Town Wilderness Study Area in Southwest Wyoming.

Energy Development and Changing Land Uses

Applied research and integrated regional assessments emphasize spatially explicit analyses of ecosystem components affected by energy development and land-use change in the western United States. Topics include sagebrush-steppe ecology; sagebrush habitat assessments; the effets of human activities (including energy development, transportation, and recreation) on habitats and wildlife behavior...
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Energy Development and Changing Land Uses

Applied research and integrated regional assessments emphasize spatially explicit analyses of ecosystem components affected by energy development and land-use change in the western United States. Topics include sagebrush-steppe ecology; sagebrush habitat assessments; the effets of human activities (including energy development, transportation, and recreation) on habitats and wildlife behavior...
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USGS

Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: Baseline Synthesis

The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural...
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: Baseline Synthesis

The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural...
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Summer sunrise on the Oregon Buttes in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)

The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural...
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)

The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural...
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Agricultural Land in the Western United States

Agricultural land cover for the western United States. This dataset was developed from Sagestitch, the Eastern Washington Shrubsteppe Mapping Project, and several state level GAP products (AZ, CA, NM, OR, and WA).
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Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Trends and a Targeted Annual Warning System for Greater Sage-Grouse in the Western United States (1960-2021)

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
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Hierarchically nested and biologically relevant range-wide monitoring frameworks for greater sage-grouse, western United States

We produced 13 hierarchically nested cluster levels that reflect the results from developing a hierarchical monitoring framework for greater sage-grouse across the western United States. Polygons (clusters) within each cluster level group a population of sage-grouse leks (sage-grouse breeding grounds) and each level increasingly groups lek clusters from previous levels. We developed the hierarchic
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Fort Collins Science Center

Greater sage-grouse population structure and connectivity data to inform the development of hierarchical population units (western United States)

We present five hierarchical demarcations of greater sage-grouse population structure, representing the spatial structure of populations which can exist due to differences in dispersal abilities, landscape configurations, and mating behavior. These demarcations represent Thiessen polygons of graph constructs (least-cost path [LCP] minimum spanning trees [MST; LCP-MST]) representing greater sage-gr
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Fort Collins Science Center

Agricultural Land Cover in the Wyoming Basins Ecoregional Assessment area

Location of agricultural land cover obtained from the LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation Type dataset.
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Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

All Big Sagebrush Species Land Cover in the Wyoming Basins Ecoregional Assessment area

Location of all big sagebrush land cover obtained from the LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation Type dataset.
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Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Cheatgrass probability of occurrence in the Wyoming Basins Ecoregional Assessment area

Probability map of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) occurrence in relation to vegetation, abiotic and anthropogenic features.
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Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Hierarchically nested and biologically relevant monitoring frameworks for Greater Sage-grouse, 2019, Nevada and Wyoming, Interim

We developed a hierarchical clustering approach that identifies biologically relevant landscape units that can 1) be used as a long-term population monitoring framework, 2) be repeated across the Greater sage-grouse range, 3) be used to track the outcomes of local and regional populations by comparing population changes across scales, and 4) be used to inform where to best spatially target studies
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
Cheatgrass on a frosty morning
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Pinyon-juniper and sagebrush on Juniper Mountain, NV
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Sagebrush after juniper removal in Utah
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Sagebrush Steppe
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Filter Total Items: 51

Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2021

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 ai
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Defining biologically relevant and hierarchically nested population units to inform wildlife management

Wildlife populations are increasingly affected by natural and anthropogenic changes that negatively alter biotic and abiotic processes at multiple spatiotemporal scales and therefore require increased wildlife management and conservation efforts. However, wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context and mechanisms to assess demographic data across the multiple spatiotemporal s
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Defining fine-scaled population structure among continuously distributed populations

Understanding wildlife population structure and connectivity can help managers identify conservation strategies, as structure can facilitate the study of population changes and habitat connectivity can provide information on dispersal and biodiversity. To facilitate the use of wildlife monitoring data for improved adaptive management, we developed a novel approach to define hierarchical tiers (mul
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Synthesizing and analyzing long-term monitoring data: A greater sage-grouse case study

Long-term monitoring of natural resources is imperative for increasing the understanding of ecosystem processes, services, and how to manage those ecosystems to maintain or improve function. Challenges with using these data may occur because methods of monitoring changed over time, multiple organizations collect and manage data differently, and monetary resources fluctuate, affecting many aspects
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Range-wide greater sage-grouse hierarchical monitoring framework—Implications for defining population boundaries, trend estimation, and a targeted annual warning system

Incorporating spatial and temporal scales into greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population monitoring strategies is challenging and rarely implemented. Sage-grouse populations experience fluctuations in abundance that lead to temporal oscillations, making trend estimation difficult. Accounting for stochasticity is critical to reliably estimate population trends and investigate varia
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Sagebrush conservation strategy—Challenges to sagebrush conservation

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome, its wildlife, and the services and benefits it provides people and local communities are at risk. Development in the sagebrush biome, for many purposes, has resulted in multiple and often cumulative negative impacts. These impacts, ranging from simple habitat loss to complex, interactive changes in ecosystem function, continue to accelerate even as the need gr
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Annotated bibliography of scientific research on greater sage-grouse published from 2015 to 2019

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter GRSG) has been a focus of scientific investigation and management action for the past two decades. The 2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing determination of “not warranted” was in part due to a large-scale collaborative effort to develop strategies to conserve GRSG populations and their habitat and to reduce threats to both. New
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Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey sagebrush ecosystem research annual report for 2020

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem extends across 251,473 square miles over portions of 13 western States. Affected by multiple stressors, including interactions among fire, invasive plants, and human land uses, this ecosystem has experienced significant loss, fragmentation, and degradation of landscapes once dominated by sagebrush. In turn, wildlife populations have declined following these
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Designing multi-scale hierarchical monitoring frameworks for wildlife to support management: A sage-grouse case study

Population monitoring is integral to the conservation and management of wildlife; yet, analyses of population demographic data rarely consider processes occurring across spatial scales, potentially limiting the effectiveness of adaptive management. Therefore, we developed a method to identify hierarchical levels of organization (i.e., populations) to define multiple spatial scales, specifically in
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey sagebrush ecosystem research annual report for 2019

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem extends across a large portion of the Western United States. Affected by multiple stressors, including interactions among fire, exotic plant invasions, and human land uses, this ecosystem has experienced significant loss, fragmentation, and degradation of landscapes once dominated by sagebrush. In turn, wildlife populations have declined following these del
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program

U.S. Geological Survey sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem research annual report for 2018

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem extends across a large portion of the Western United States, and the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is one of the iconic species of this ecosystem. Greater sage-grouse populations occur in 11 States and are dependent on relatively large expanses of sagebrush-dominated habitat. Sage-grouse populations have been experiencing long-term decline
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program

Spatial, road geometric, and biotic factors associated with Barn Owl mortality along an interstate highway

Highway programs typically focus on reducing vehicle collisions with large mammals because of economic or safety reasons while overlooking the millions of birds that die annually from traffic. We studied wildlife‐vehicle collisions along an interstate highway in southern Idaho, USA, with among the highest reported rates of American Barn Owl Tyto furcata road mortality. Carcass data from systematic
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Ecosystems

Non-USGS Publications**

Hanser, S.E., 2001. The Diversity and Abundance of Small Mammals in Sage-steppe Habitat Fragments Within Agricultural and Lava-flow Matrices (Master Thesis, Idaho State University).
Hanser, S.E. and Huntly, N.J., 2006. The biogeography of small mammals of fragmented sagebrush-steppe landscapes. Journal of Mammalogy, 87(6), pp.1165-1174.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

popcluster: hierarchical population monitoring frameworks, Version 2.0.0

We developed a method to construct hierarchically nested and biologically relevant groupings of similar habitats associated with field surveys while considering structure/connectedness (movements between habitats). This approach can support mobile species using high fidelity sites where monitoring during surveys occurs, such as birthing grounds, breeding grounds, or stopovers/seasonal habitats for
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Fort Collins Science Center

grsg_lekdb: Compiling and standardizing greater sage-grouse lek databases, version 1.1.0

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are landscape-scale sagebrush obligate species and an important gamebird and iconic species of the western United States. They occupy the sagebrush biome in western North America, extending east of the Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mountain ranges to the western regions of the Great Plains of the United States. Sage-grouse are one of the most closely monitor
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Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center

lcp_centrality: Defining least-cost paths and graph theory centrality measures

We present software that creates least-cost path spanning trees, a least-cost path minimum spanning tree, and graph theory centrality measures. The software was developed to support identification of population structures--specifically, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), but also support other species or graph theory applications where least-cost paths are desired. We used habitat pa
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Fort Collins Science Center

grsg_lekdb: Compiling and standardizing greater sage-grouse lek databases

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are landscape-scale sagebrush obligate species and an important gamebird and iconic species of the western United States. They occupy the sagebrush biome in western North America, extending east of the Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mountain ranges to the western regions of the Great Plains of the United States. Sage-grouse are one of the most closely monitor
By
Fort Collins Science Center

popcluster: Developing Hierarchical Population Monitoring Frameworks for mobile species with high site fidelity

The software "popcluster" constructs hierarchically nested groupings of similar habitats associated with field surveys while considering biological structure/connectedness (movements between habitats). This approach can support mobile species with high site fidelity where monitoring during surveys occurs on birthing grounds, breeding grounds, or stopovers/seasonal habitat for migratory s
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Ecosystems, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Fort Collins Science Center Scientists Share Expertise at Society for Range Management Meeting

Scientists from the US Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center will be presenting on topics ranging from sage-grouse to invasive plant species...

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Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse Published

The U.S. Geological Survey has reviewed and summarized the substantial body of literature related to the conservation, management, monitoring, and...

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New Rangeland Fire Science Plan Essential for Sage-Grouse, Sagebrush Conservation and Restoration

Plan also addresses other rangeland threats

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Science and Products