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Approaches to delineate greater sage‐grouse winter concentration areas
Author(s) -
Smith Kurt T.,
Dinkins Jonathan B.,
Beck Jeffrey L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1002/jwmg.21738
Subject(s) - flock , habitat , wildlife , ecology , grouse , selection (genetic algorithm) , range (aeronautics) , wildlife management , resource (disambiguation) , geography , biology , computer science , materials science , artificial intelligence , composite material , computer network
The usefulness of protected areas as regulatory mechanisms to conserve wildlife populations relies on their ability to contain all seasonal habitats necessary for species persistence. Efficient conservation practices require understanding behavior and habitat needs of individual species and populations rather than simply relying on reserves of approximate size and configuration. Priority Areas of Conservation (PACs) have been delineated as protected areas based on known breeding habitat for greater sage‐grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ; sage‐grouse) throughout their range. These PACs include Core Areas designated in the Wyoming Sage‐grouse Executive Order; however, this order also indicated the need to identify winter concentration areas (WCAs; flocks ≥50 individuals) based on habitat features using validated resource selection functions (RSFs). We used aerial infrared videography to identify locations of wintering sage‐grouse in south‐central and southwest Wyoming, USA, to evaluate winter sage‐grouse habitat selection with individual‐based RSFs, RSFs based on WCAs, and relative flock size. We located 4,859 individuals comprising 132 flocks across our study area. Flocks occurred in Core Areas more than expected, but a biologically meaningful number of sage‐grouse flocks were located outside of Core Areas. Individual‐based RSFs contained useful predictors that were consistent with previous sage‐grouse winter habitat selection studies. Flock size and WCA models produced similar predictions to individual‐based RSF models. Individual‐based and WCA‐based RSF model predictions had a high degree of similarity, suggesting that identifying important winter habitats with individual‐based RSF modeling is useful for locating potential WCAs when information on flock sizes is not available. Our results and survey technique provide a potential framework for identifying sage‐grouse WCAs with implications for improving PAC protection of all seasonal habitats for sage‐grouse conservation. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.