The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection
Abstract Understanding how vegetation management affects animals' habitat selection patterns is critical for comprehensive conservation planning. As part of a decade‐long study (2011–2019) of 486 adult female sage‐grouse in central Montana, we investigated how a conservation‐based grazing progr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70053 |
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| author | Jennifer E. Helm Elizabeth G. Simpson Lorelle I. Berkeley Mark Szczypinski Shea P. Coons Victoria J. Dreitz |
| author_facet | Jennifer E. Helm Elizabeth G. Simpson Lorelle I. Berkeley Mark Szczypinski Shea P. Coons Victoria J. Dreitz |
| author_sort | Jennifer E. Helm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Understanding how vegetation management affects animals' habitat selection patterns is critical for comprehensive conservation planning. As part of a decade‐long study (2011–2019) of 486 adult female sage‐grouse in central Montana, we investigated how a conservation‐based grazing program (CGP) affected greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat selection at two temporal scales: (a) the seasonal scale (four biologically relevant seasons) and (b) the annual scale. We used resource selection functions to assess sage‐grouse selection for pastures enrolled in a CGP as well as plant functional type and topography. We found that sage‐grouse strongly selected shrub cover, flatter slopes, and less tree cover. They selected CGP‐enrolled pastures (Pre‐, During‐, and Post‐grazing system implementation) over Non‐CGP pastures during all seasons except the summer–fall. During the summer–fall, they selected pastures where CGP implementation was complete. Future research is needed to determine whether selection for CGP‐enrolled pastures was due to unmeasured, underlying differences between CGP and non‐CGP pastures or CGP enrollment patterns rather than effects of different grazing systems, as well as whether these habitat selection differences are linked to demographic rates or population dynamics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0024123fdacd4e989d05b5730eb3495e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-0024123fdacd4e989d05b5730eb3495e2025-08-20T02:34:07ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542025-06-0176n/an/a10.1111/csp2.70053The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selectionJennifer E. Helm0Elizabeth G. Simpson1Lorelle I. Berkeley2Mark Szczypinski3Shea P. Coons4Victoria J. Dreitz5Avian Science Center, Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USAAvian Science Center, Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USAMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Helena Montana USAMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Helena Montana USAAvian Science Center, Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USAAvian Science Center, Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USAAbstract Understanding how vegetation management affects animals' habitat selection patterns is critical for comprehensive conservation planning. As part of a decade‐long study (2011–2019) of 486 adult female sage‐grouse in central Montana, we investigated how a conservation‐based grazing program (CGP) affected greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat selection at two temporal scales: (a) the seasonal scale (four biologically relevant seasons) and (b) the annual scale. We used resource selection functions to assess sage‐grouse selection for pastures enrolled in a CGP as well as plant functional type and topography. We found that sage‐grouse strongly selected shrub cover, flatter slopes, and less tree cover. They selected CGP‐enrolled pastures (Pre‐, During‐, and Post‐grazing system implementation) over Non‐CGP pastures during all seasons except the summer–fall. During the summer–fall, they selected pastures where CGP implementation was complete. Future research is needed to determine whether selection for CGP‐enrolled pastures was due to unmeasured, underlying differences between CGP and non‐CGP pastures or CGP enrollment patterns rather than effects of different grazing systems, as well as whether these habitat selection differences are linked to demographic rates or population dynamics.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70053Centrocercus urophasianusrangeland managementresource selectionsage‐grouse initiative |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer E. Helm Elizabeth G. Simpson Lorelle I. Berkeley Mark Szczypinski Shea P. Coons Victoria J. Dreitz The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection Conservation Science and Practice Centrocercus urophasianus rangeland management resource selection sage‐grouse initiative |
| title | The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection |
| title_full | The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection |
| title_fullStr | The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection |
| title_short | The influence of a conservation‐based grazing program on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection |
| title_sort | influence of a conservation based grazing program on greater sage grouse habitat selection |
| topic | Centrocercus urophasianus rangeland management resource selection sage‐grouse initiative |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70053 |
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