Date of Award:

8-2013

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Committee Chair(s)

S. Nicole Frey

Committee

S. Nicole Frey

Committee

Frank P. Howe

Committee

Chris Call

Abstract

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are a prominent bird species of sagebrush-dominated landscapes across the western United States. Over the past 15 years, sage-grouse have gained international attention due to decreasing population trends despite management efforts. In 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated this species as warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act, but the listing was precluded by other species at higher conservation risk. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation have been implicated as primary sources of declines in sage-grouse distribution and abundance. The Bald Hills population in southwestern Utah occupies an area with high potential for renewable energy development. This population is on the southern fringe of the species range and fringe populations are often under greater risk of extinction. The objective of this research was to determine the habitat preferences and space use patterns of the Bald Hills sage-grouse population to better understand how southern fringe sage-grouse populations interact with their habitat.

In May 2010 the Bureau of Land Management was awarded a grant by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to conduct research on the habitat use and movement of the Bald Hills sage-grouse population prior to renewable energy development in the area. This grant was provided with the goal of improving the management of lands that may be open to energy development in the future as well as job creation for the duration of the research project. Over the duration of the project, one full-time graduate student and more than five seasonal undergraduate students were employed. This project created jobs and provided invaluable field experience for students pursuing wildlife-related careers.

Understanding the relationship between sage-grouse and their habitat will assist land managers in mitigating threats to the population while balancing the demands to further develop renewable energy resources. The research was successful. All of my results indicated that by occupying marginal habitat, the Bald Hills periphery population has adapted unique seasonal habitat preferences. I made management recommendations based on these results. I concluded that researchers and resource managers should examine isolated, fringe, and low-density populations more closely to develop local-specific management techniques to account for unique adaptations and ensure the persistence of these sage-grouse populations.

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