‘‘Silver Sagebrush Community Associations in Southeastern Alberta, Canada.’’ Rangeland Ecology & Management 58:400-405

Abstract

Understanding the distribution and abundance of habitat and resources is an important issue in wildlife conservation and will advance understanding of wildlife habitat relationships (Morrison 2001). Jones et al. (2005) developed a vital habitat layer, describing the distribution of silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana Pursh) in southeastern Alberta, Canada, and identifying relationships between sagebrush characteristics and physiographic parameters. This paper adds greatly to our understanding of poorly-studied silver sagebrush communities and as Jones et al. (2005) point out, this is an important first step in developing management plans for sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.) recovery. This product has recently been used to understand sage-grouse habitat relationships, linking habitat to the viability of the endangered Alberta greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population (Aldridge 2005).