Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species
Robust science is needed to inform natural resource management and policy decisions. Predictive species habitat maps are frequently employed in conservation decision-making but are often based on a single metric representing habitat quality. We outlined a framework that combines multiple spatially e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Ecological Informatics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954125002377 |
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| author | Megan C. Milligan Peter S. Coates Shawn T. O'Neil Brianne E. Brussee Michael P. Chenaille Derek A. Friend Kathleen Steele Justin R. Small Timothy S. Bowden Arlene D. Kosic Katherine Miller Michael L. Casazza |
| author_facet | Megan C. Milligan Peter S. Coates Shawn T. O'Neil Brianne E. Brussee Michael P. Chenaille Derek A. Friend Kathleen Steele Justin R. Small Timothy S. Bowden Arlene D. Kosic Katherine Miller Michael L. Casazza |
| author_sort | Megan C. Milligan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Robust science is needed to inform natural resource management and policy decisions. Predictive species habitat maps are frequently employed in conservation decision-making but are often based on a single metric representing habitat quality. We outlined a framework that combines multiple spatially explicit indices of potential habitat quality that could be used to identify and prioritize habitat management areas, using the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) as an example species. Due to large-scale changes in sagebrush ecosystems, sage-grouse have suffered significant population declines in recent decades and have become key to land management plans throughout the western United States, where comprehensive habitat maps are crucial to effective conservation efforts. We evaluated habitat selection and survival patterns of sage-grouse across six distinct annual life stages and seasons to generate predictive habitat map surfaces, mapped the distribution of current occupancy, and combined maps of potential selection and survival patterns with space use and occupancy indices to delineate example habitat management categories. Our approach facilitates identification of priority areas to target for habitat preservation and areas where anthropogenic impacts could occur with likely minimal impact to the species. Overall, by combining indices representing selection, survival, and current occupancy, we provide a framework to allow for a flexible and targeted management approach that could be adapted to a wide variety of species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-47df952b5e00400abede849c956eaad2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1574-9541 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Informatics |
| spelling | doaj-art-47df952b5e00400abede849c956eaad22025-08-20T05:05:11ZengElsevierEcological Informatics1574-95412025-12-019010322810.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103228Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator speciesMegan C. Milligan0Peter S. Coates1Shawn T. O'Neil2Brianne E. Brussee3Michael P. Chenaille4Derek A. Friend5Kathleen Steele6Justin R. Small7Timothy S. Bowden8Arlene D. Kosic9Katherine Miller10Michael L. Casazza11U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Reno, NV 89512, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA 95620, USA; Corresponding author.U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA 95620, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA 95620, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA 95620, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA 95620, USANevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Carson City, NV 89701, USANevada Department of Wildlife, Reno, NV 89511, USABureau of Land Management, Reno, NV 89502, USABureau of Land Management, Cedarville, CA 96104, USACalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA 95605, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA 95620, USARobust science is needed to inform natural resource management and policy decisions. Predictive species habitat maps are frequently employed in conservation decision-making but are often based on a single metric representing habitat quality. We outlined a framework that combines multiple spatially explicit indices of potential habitat quality that could be used to identify and prioritize habitat management areas, using the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) as an example species. Due to large-scale changes in sagebrush ecosystems, sage-grouse have suffered significant population declines in recent decades and have become key to land management plans throughout the western United States, where comprehensive habitat maps are crucial to effective conservation efforts. We evaluated habitat selection and survival patterns of sage-grouse across six distinct annual life stages and seasons to generate predictive habitat map surfaces, mapped the distribution of current occupancy, and combined maps of potential selection and survival patterns with space use and occupancy indices to delineate example habitat management categories. Our approach facilitates identification of priority areas to target for habitat preservation and areas where anthropogenic impacts could occur with likely minimal impact to the species. Overall, by combining indices representing selection, survival, and current occupancy, we provide a framework to allow for a flexible and targeted management approach that could be adapted to a wide variety of species.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954125002377Greater sage-grouseHabitat mapsManagement areasOccupancySelectionSurvival |
| spellingShingle | Megan C. Milligan Peter S. Coates Shawn T. O'Neil Brianne E. Brussee Michael P. Chenaille Derek A. Friend Kathleen Steele Justin R. Small Timothy S. Bowden Arlene D. Kosic Katherine Miller Michael L. Casazza Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species Ecological Informatics Greater sage-grouse Habitat maps Management areas Occupancy Selection Survival |
| title | Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species |
| title_full | Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species |
| title_fullStr | Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species |
| title_short | Integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species |
| title_sort | integrating multiple indices of habitat quality to inform habitat management for a sagebrush indicator species |
| topic | Greater sage-grouse Habitat maps Management areas Occupancy Selection Survival |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954125002377 |
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