Nghiên cứu Hành vi Sinh thái Chim Sage-Grouse và Phản ứng với Cải tạo Môi trường sống ở Bắc Utah

Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2010 Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Ecology and Responses to Habitat Manipulations in Northern, Utah Eric T. Thacker Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.edu/etd Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Thacker, Eric T., "Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Ecology and Responses to Habitat Manipulations in Northern, Utah" (2010). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations.edu/etd/707 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU.

For more information, please contact digitalcommons@usu. GREATER SAGE-GROUSE SEASONAL ECOLOGY AND RESPONSES TO HABITAT MANIPULATIONS IN NORTHERN, UTAH by Eric T. Thacker A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Wildlife Biology Approved: ________________________ ______________________________ Terry A. Connelly Major Professor Committee Member ________________________ ______________________________ Mark W.

Ryel Committee Member Committee Member _______________________ ______________________________ R. Douglas Ramsey Bryon R. Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2010 ii Copyright © Eric T. Thacker 2010 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Ecology and Responses to Habitat Manipulations in Northern, Utah by Eric T.

Thacker, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2010 Major Professor: Dr. Messmer Department: Wildland Resources Declining greater sage-grouse populations (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) have led to increased concern regarding the long-term stability of the species. Previous research has identified factors contributing to the observed population declines. Habitat degradation and loss have been implicated as major factors in population declines.

Although much is known about sage-grouse biology, more information is needed about population responses to specific management actions. This research was conducted to document sage-grouse responses to site-specific management actions. Additionally, I evaluated sage-grouse temporal and seasonal habitat-use and the comparability of techniques used by range and wildlife managers to measure vegetation responses of habitat management. Specifically, I evaluated 1) whether chemical analysis (gas chromatography) of sage-grouse fecal pellets could identify sagebrush species in sage-grouse winter diets, 2) the comparability of the line-point intercept and Daubenmire canopy cover methods for estimating canopy cover, 3) the response of sage-grouse broods to prescribed burns in a high elevation sagebrush community in northeastern iv Utah, and 4) the vegetation and insect characteristics of sites used by sage-grouse broods during a 24-hour period.

I was able to determine wintering sage-grouse diets using gas chromatography by analyzing fecal pellets. This research also confirmed that black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) was an important component of sage-grouse winter diets in western Box Elder County and Parker Mountain populations. The line-point intercept and Daubenmire methods for estimating canopy cover are not comparable. Sage-grouse broods selected small (~ 25 ha) patchy prescribed burns in high elevation mountain big sagebrush (A.

tridentata vaseyana) communities in northeastern Utah. Sage-grouse brood-site use in northwestern Utah did not differ during the diurnal hours, but nocturnal roost sites were characterized by shorter statured shrubs and more bare ground when compared to midday sites. (138 pages) v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The title page of a dissertation fails to acknowledge that the resulting document is not because of one individual's solo effort; it is a concerted effort of many dedicated individuals. I must first acknowledge Dr.

Terry Messmer, who has provided me with the funding, mentoring, and guidance to complete this research. Messmer has allowed me to explore research interests that were not part of my original project. This has allowed me to explore topics that I would not have otherwise been exposed to. Messmer is passionate about research having direct impacts to the local communities; this has left a lasting impression upon me.

I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Messmer's ability to assemble a great staff and lab. Specifically I would like to thank Todd Black, for countless nights of trapping, enthusiasm for the research, and technical support. Additionally I would like to also thank David Dahlgren and Michael Guttery, who are good friends and colleagues, who have helped trap and allowed me to bounce ideas off them from time to time.

I would also like to thank the rest of Dr. Messmer's lab for the help they provided on my behalf. I also must recognize my committee, Dr. Ron Ryel, Dr.

Douglas Ramsey, Dr. Mark Brunson, and Dr. John "Jack" Connelly, for the time they spent reviewing drafts, their knowledge, and their professional guidance. This has definitely enriched my graduate experience.

I must extend special thanks to "Jack" Connelly for helping me integrate into the sage-grouse world. I would like to recognize the Box Elder Adaptive Resource Management local working group for providing grass roots support for sage-grouse conservation in Box Elder County. Troy Forrest (Box Elder Soil Conservation District) has provided much vi insight and technical help to see the Grouse Creek Livestock Association project through. I would also like to thank the Grouse Creek Livestock Association for allowing open access to their land holdings to conduct my research.

Specifically I would like to thank Blaine and Jay Tanner of Della Ranches. They provided places to store equipment, helped me gain access to private land, and helped us out of a few tight spots. I must also thank the Grouse Creek community who welcomed me, my technicians, and most importantly my family into the community for the past four summers. Grouse Creek is a long ways from a tire shop and Gordon Tanner fixed numerous flats “free of charge.” Why because that is what he has done for everyone for the last 10 years, thanks Gordon.

I would like recognize the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for all the help and support they provided to me. I would specifically like to thank Dean Mitchell, Dave Olsen, Brian Maxfield, and Kory Inglet for their help. I would also like to thank the Ashley National Forest for offering me the chance to work on Anthro Mountain. Robert Christensen and Allen Huber were great to work with and provided data that required adding additional work to their busy schedules.

I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Dale Gardner of the USDA - ARS Poisonous Plant Research Lab, for performing the chemical analysis of sage-grouse fecal material. Gardner is an exceptional natural product chemist who participated in this project simply because he is passionate about grouse. I would like to express my many thanks to my technicians who have worked long difficult hours in the field (Chris Wesolek, Lee Nelson, Bobby Boswell, Jeff Dacey, Justin Windsor, Clint Wirick, and Stuart Luttich).

I have been very fortunate to have technicians who were very passionate about the work, were enjoyable to work with, and vii were great workers. I would like to especially thank Chris Wesolek for his exceptional dedication in performing some of the more mundane tasks of sorting insects, data entry, and prepping fecal pellets for chemical analysis. Last of all I would like to tell my family how incredibly grateful I am to them. They have sacrificed much in order to support my professional goals.

Messmer made it possible for me to take my family with me to Grouse Creek, Utah each field season. It takes a strong and dedicated woman to tolerate the rigors of a spouse in graduate school, but it takes someone extra special to willingly move her home to Grouse Creek each summer to be with her husband. Not only was she willing to move her home to Grouse Creek each summer, but she was also a lot of help on the project. She cooked meals and cookies for technicians, recorded and entered vegetation data, and even trapped a few grouse.

I am sure she is the only soccer mom that has jumped off the back of a moving ATV at midnight with a long-handled dip net in her hand! Her friendship and support exemplifies the true meaning of love. Additionally, there are 4 little girls (Emma, Allie, Kassie, and Lillie) who mean the world to me. They think things like dissertations, proposals, research, radio-collared grouse, bird dogs, and sagebrush are a normal part of daily life. I hope they remember time spent in Grouse Creek as fondly as I do.

It has been a great experience to share the wonders of sage-grouse and sagebrush country with my daughters. I must also mention the unfailing support of my parents and my brothers. I would especially like to thank my father, who spent countless hours with me in the great outdoors instilling in me an appreciation for the natural wonders of the world around us. The time spent in the field as a young boy has had a significant impact on my current professional pursuits.

Additionally my mother has provided me the viii encouragement that only a mother who “sees what could be” instead of “what is.” Thanks to all of my family members who have spent time in the field with me over the last 4 years. Thacker ix CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT. v LIST OF TABLES. xii LIST OF FIGURES.

INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW. 1 SAGE-GROUSE REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY. 4 Pre-laying Habitat. 5 SAGE-GROUSE WINTER ECOLOGY.

USING GAS CHROMOTOGRAPHY TO DETERMINE GREATER SAGE-GROUSE WINTER DIETS IN TWO UTAH POPULATIONS. COMPARABILITY OFDAUBENMIRE AND LINE-POINT INTERCEPT METHODS FOR GREATER SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT PARAMETERS. GREATER SAGE-GROUSE RESPONSE TO PRECRIBED FIRE IN HIGH ELEVATION SAGEBRUSH COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEASTERN, UTAH. TEMPORAL HABITAT-USE BY GREATER SAGE-GROUSE BROODS IN NORTHWESTERN UTAH.

CASE STUDY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM A COST- SHARE PROJECT INTENDED TO BENEFIT GREATER SAGE-GROUSE IN UTAH. GROUSE CREEK GRAZING ASSOSIATION CONSERVATION PLAN. 118 xii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2-1. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) diet consumption by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) community type in West Box Elder and Parker Mountain, Utah, 2007-2998.

ARNO = black sagebrush (A. nova), ATRTW = Wyoming sagebrush (A. tridentata wyomingensis), MIX = mixed sagebrush. Burn history from 1991 - 2008 on Anthro Mountain, Utah.

These numbers reflect the actual size of the burns and include non-sagebrush (Artemisia spp. Area of burns and proportion of study area treated by prescribed fire on Anthro Mountain, Utah. These values are calculated from a 30 m resolution raster and excluded non-sagebrush (Artemisia spp. Percent of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) brood using prescribed burns, on Anthro Mountain, Utah, 2003-2009.

List of forbs found in Grouse Creek, Utah that are important to sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) chicks. ) This list is adapted from Klebenow and Gray 1968, Martin et al. Results from a complete randomized design testing for significance (α = .05) by time periods for sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) brood locations in Grouse Creek, Utah in 2007-2008. Means and SE for structure and forage measured at sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) brood locations in Grouse Creek, Utah, 2007-2008.

Greater sage- grouse broods were located during 4 time periods. Time periods were as follows: AM (sunrise - 0900 hrs), NOON (1200-1600 hrs), PM (1800 - sunset), and ROOST (2100 - 0300 hrs). TSC = total shrub cover, PGC = perennial grass cover, TFC = total forb cover, BGC = bare ground cover, TSH = total shrub height, THH = total herbaceous height, GFC = grouse forb cover, GIV = grouse insect volume. Seed mixture developed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources specifically for reseeding treatments for plots in, Grouse Creek Conservation Area, West Box Elder County, Utah 2006.

113 xiii LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 2-1. Comparison of gas chromatograms of terpene profiles from black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) and Wyoming sagebrush (A. tridentata wyomingensis) from West Box Elder County, Utah in 2008. This shows the crude terpene profile for both species of sagebrush to illustrate differences in profiles between the two species.

Relative abundance is the relative abundance of each compound (chromatogram peak) and retention (x-axis) time is the amount of time it takes each compound (peak) to travel through the column. Gas chromatograms for terpene profiles from black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) and Wyoming sagebrush (A. wyomingensis) plants and fecal pellets collected in West Box Elder County, Utah 2008.