Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California

ABSTRACT Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have declined throughout their geographic range, are considered a candidate species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and are regarded as a species of special concern in California, USA. Demographic parameters have been well‐d...

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Main Authors: Dawn M. Davis, Kerry P. Reese, Scott C. Gardner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-12-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.467
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author Dawn M. Davis
Kerry P. Reese
Scott C. Gardner
author_facet Dawn M. Davis
Kerry P. Reese
Scott C. Gardner
author_sort Dawn M. Davis
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have declined throughout their geographic range, are considered a candidate species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and are regarded as a species of special concern in California, USA. Demographic parameters have been well‐documented for this species, but populations occupying the western periphery of their range have largely remained unstudied. We examined diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in northeastern California. We collected 3,072 diurnal locations from 132 greater sage‐grouse radiomarked between 2007 and 2009. Greater sage‐grouse in our study used large areas and exhibited wide‐ranging seasonal movements. Female greater sage‐grouse sought suitable nesting habitat within 5 km of a lek; however, of the 27% (n = 20/74) of females nesting >5 km from an occupied lek site, 53% (n = 10/19) nested successfully. This suggests the proportion of nesting females located >5 km from an active lek is important for population viability in northeastern California. Moreover, the annual range of movements indicates that conserving greater sage‐grouse habitat within 5 km of active lek sites is insufficient to maintain long‐term population persistence. Larger areas of habitat are needed to conserve greater sage‐grouse in northeastern California to accommodate seasonal movements, annual variation in habitat requirements, and to maintain connectivity between lek complexes. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-20d2f9ee552f4f1ca0422b65ba14de202024-12-16T12:55:42ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402014-12-0138471072010.1002/wsb.467Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern CaliforniaDawn M. Davis0Kerry P. Reese1Scott C. Gardner2Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowID83844USADepartment of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowID83844USACalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeSacramentoCA95814USAABSTRACT Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have declined throughout their geographic range, are considered a candidate species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and are regarded as a species of special concern in California, USA. Demographic parameters have been well‐documented for this species, but populations occupying the western periphery of their range have largely remained unstudied. We examined diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in northeastern California. We collected 3,072 diurnal locations from 132 greater sage‐grouse radiomarked between 2007 and 2009. Greater sage‐grouse in our study used large areas and exhibited wide‐ranging seasonal movements. Female greater sage‐grouse sought suitable nesting habitat within 5 km of a lek; however, of the 27% (n = 20/74) of females nesting >5 km from an occupied lek site, 53% (n = 10/19) nested successfully. This suggests the proportion of nesting females located >5 km from an active lek is important for population viability in northeastern California. Moreover, the annual range of movements indicates that conserving greater sage‐grouse habitat within 5 km of active lek sites is insufficient to maintain long‐term population persistence. Larger areas of habitat are needed to conserve greater sage‐grouse in northeastern California to accommodate seasonal movements, annual variation in habitat requirements, and to maintain connectivity between lek complexes. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.467Centrocercus urophasianusdiurnal space usegreater sage‐grouseseasonal movements
spellingShingle Dawn M. Davis
Kerry P. Reese
Scott C. Gardner
Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California
Wildlife Society Bulletin
Centrocercus urophasianus
diurnal space use
greater sage‐grouse
seasonal movements
title Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California
title_full Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California
title_fullStr Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California
title_full_unstemmed Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California
title_short Diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage‐grouse in Northeastern California
title_sort diurnal space use and seasonal movement patterns of greater sage grouse in northeastern california
topic Centrocercus urophasianus
diurnal space use
greater sage‐grouse
seasonal movements
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.467
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AT kerrypreese diurnalspaceuseandseasonalmovementpatternsofgreatersagegrouseinnortheasterncalifornia
AT scottcgardner diurnalspaceuseandseasonalmovementpatternsofgreatersagegrouseinnortheasterncalifornia