Sage grouse use of burned, non-burned, and seeded vegetation communities on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho
Sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) depend on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities to meet their life history requirements throughout the year. Alteration of sagebrush communities by chemical, mechanical, or biological means affects sage grouse distribution and abundance. From March 1988 through September 1989, a study was conducted on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory to investigate sage grouse response during spring and summer to a sagebrush community altered by fire and artificial seeding of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). Relative seasonal use of burned, non-burned, and seeded areas was investigated using radio telemetry, roadside counts, and pellet census techniques. In 1988, a drought year, telemetry efforts focused on males utilizing the seeding for strutting activities. Males left the study area at the conclusion of the breeding season. In 1989, a year of normal precipitation, females which bred on these same arenas were radio-tracked to evaluate brood-rearing potential. Telemetered females remained in the study area, attempting to nest and raise broods. In both years, sage grouse were observed during roadside counts through early September. Due to inherent biases in data collection techniques and variable conditions between years, telemetry, route counts, and pellet census results revealed slightly different movement and relative use patterns. However, all data indicated that sage grouse took advantage of the variety of vegetation types available. Non-burned areas provided essential sagebrush cover and food for wintering and nesting sage grouse. Burned areas provided open overhead canopies attractive to young grouse seeking palatable forbs. The artificial seeding will maintain an opening in the sagebrush canopy for strutting grounds. On this study area, alteration of the sagebrush community did not appear to discourage sage grouse use. 54 refs., 18 figs., 11 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS07-80ID12769
- OSTI ID:
- 5856282
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/12769-1; ON: DE91012765
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (M.S.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIRDS
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
POPULATION DYNAMICS
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FIRES
BEHAVIOR
DATA ACQUISITION
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
HABITAT
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
POPULATION DENSITY
REPRODUCTION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TELEMETRY
ANIMALS
COMMUNICATIONS
DATA TRANSMISSION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
550100* - Behavioral Biology