Phoebe R. Prather Ph.D. Defense Department of Wildland Resources Utah State University
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Transcript of Phoebe R. Prather Ph.D. Defense Department of Wildland Resources Utah State University
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Factors Affecting Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) Conservation in San Juan
County, Utah
Phoebe R. PratherPh.D. DefenseDepartment of Wildland ResourcesUtah State University
Advisor: Dr. Terry A. Messmer
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Gunnison vs. Greater Sage-grouse
• Separated from Greater in 2000.
• Smaller: shorter tarsus, culmen and carpal measurements.
• Male mass 400 grams less than male Greater.
• Shorter retrices, more distinct barring.
• Considerably larger and thicker filoplumes.
• Differ in strutting displays.
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Distribution
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Gunnison Sage-grouse Lek CountsSan Juan County, Utah
Roring Lek East Seep Lek Hickman/BLM Lek Dodge Pt. Lek
Year
MAX
. # M
ALES
OBS
ERVE
D
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Conservation Efforts• 1997: Gunnison Sage-
grouse Priority Conservation Area.
• Conservation Study Area: contains year-round range (98% privately owned).
• Agriculture fields, grazed rangelands, fallow agriculture fields, CRP, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper and oak woodlands.
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Conservation Efforts
• SWOG formed in 1996 and published a local conservation plan in 2000.
• Rangewide Conservation Plan published in 2005.
• Identify and rank threats.
• Propose conservation strategies.
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Habitat Assessment• Assessment of vegetation
conditions of sagebrush habitats in Gunnison Sage-grouse Conservation Area.
• Determine if conditions meet criteria stated in Rangewide Plan.
• Assist managers in developing and prioritizing habitat restoration projects.
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Methods
• Occupied habitat: areas located within the CSA.
• Unoccupied habitat: areas that were historically inhabited or were near an area currently or historically inhabited by sage-grouse (CA and CCA).
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Methods
4LegendConservation Study Area boundary
Habitat buffers0 3,300 6,600 9,900 13,2001,650
Meters
• Plotted historic and current lek sites (CSA).• Buffered in 1,500m increments.• Extended buffer to include unoccupied habitat (CCA).• Total buffer 7,500m.
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Methods
4LegendRandom vegetation points
Conservation Study Area boundary
Habitat buffers0 3,300 6,600 9,900 13,2001,650
Meters
• 1,000 points.• Selected 150.• Eliminated 6 points not
in sagebrush (144, map).• Field visit: eliminated 51
points (93).– 39 unoccupied.– 54 occupied.
• All breeding, summer/fall, and winter habitats in CSA.
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Methods
• Gunnison Sage-grouse Rangewide Steering Committee Structural Vegetation Collection Guidelines:– Two 30-m transects.– Daubenmire method.– Percent cover and height
of grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
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Results – Occupied and Unoccupied Breeding Habitat
Percent Cover Height (cm)Habitat P-grass Forbs Sagebrush P-grass Forbs Sagebrush
Occupied 17 (3.2) 3 (1.4) 17 (3.6) 23 (4.4) 3 (0.9) 51 (4.2)
Unoccupied 18 (3.8) 6 (1.6) 17 (4.4) 15 (2.3) 4 (0.7) 46 (4.6)
RCP
Breeding 10-30 5-15 15-25 10-15 5-10 25-50
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Results – Occupied and Unoccupied Summer/Fall Habitats
Percent Cover Height (cm)Habitat P-grass Forbs Sagebrush P-grass Forbs Sagebrush
Occupied 17 (3.2) 3 (1.4) 17 (3.6) 23 (4.4) 3 (0.9) 51 (4.2)
Unoccupied 18 (3.8) 6 (1.6) 17 (4.4) 15 (2.3) 4 (0.7) 46 (4.6)
RCP
Summer/Fall 10-25 5-15 5-15 10-15 3-10 20-40
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Results – Occupied and Unoccupied Winter Habitats
Percent Cover Height (cm)Habitat P-grass Forbs Sagebrush P-grass Forbs Sagebrush
Occupied 17 (3.6) 51 (4.2)
Unoccupied 17 (4.4) 46 (4.6)
RCP
Winter 30-40 40-55
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Discussion
• Confined to CSA.• Bird locations
within CSA.• CA: Mosaic of
sagebrush patches within pinyon-juniper/oak.4Legend
Gunnison sage-grouse locations
Random vegetation points
Conservation Study Area boundary
Habitat buffers0 3,300 6,600 9,900 13,2001,650
Meters
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Discussion – Crested Wheatgrass
• Dominate perennial grass.
• Invaded all sagebrush areas.
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Discussion - CRP• Held steady since
initial drop after advent of CRP.
• Permanent cover.• Re-establish areas of
sagebrush and native grasses and forbs.– Corridors between
sagebrush areas.• Restoration of areas
outside CSA.
19701972
19741976
19781980
19821984
19861988
19901992
19941996
19982000
20022004
20062008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Gunnison Sage-grouse Lek CountsSan Juan County, Utah
Year
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Acknowledgements• Advisor: Dr. Terry Messmer.• Committee:
– Dr. Eugene Schupp, Dr. Chris Call, Dr. Fred Provenza, Dr. Tim Graham
• Funders:– BLM and NRCS– Endangered Species Mitigation
Fund– PacifiCorp– Jack H. Berryman Institute
• Todd Black (and family)• Tammy Wallace (BLM)• Guy Wallace (UDWR)• Canyon Country Youth Corp.• Monticello/Dove Creek LWG• Private Landowners• Family and friends• My dog Jake
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