Date of Award:

12-2012

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Committee Chair(s)

Terry A. Messmer

Committee

Terry A. Messmer

Committee

David Koons

Committee

Frank Howe

Abstract

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have declined range-wide. Species translocations have been identified as a conservation strategy to augment declining populations in restored habitats. I evaluated protocols previously used to successfully translocate greater sage-grouse in Utah by comparing annual production, survival, habitat use, integration and seasonal movements of translocated birds and their chicks to the resident population. To conduct this study, I translocated 60 greater sagegrouse hens captured and radio-collared on Parker Mountain to Anthro Mountain in the spring of 2009 and 2010. I also captured and radio-collared 19 resident hens to serve as my control group. All radio-collared hens were re-located 2-3 times a week and habitat data was recorded at the location sites. From successful nests, 3 to 6 chicks were radiomarked with a 1-gm transmitter sutured to the chick’s back. Vegetation measurements were recorded at brood and random sites until the broods fledged or failed. Survival and movement data were analyzed using Program MARK, R, and ArcGIS. Although this research validated previously used translocation protocols, the effect of the translocation on augmenting the local population could not be confirmed.

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adc6af130d69c92dec46ce656726525f

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on December 21, 2012.

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