Gunnison Sage-grouse Centrocercus Minimus Research Articles

Are Lek Disturbance Buffers Equitable for All Gunnison Sage-Grouse Populations?

Abstract Lek disturbance buffers can be used to identify areas that provide important seasonal habitat for Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus (hereafter GUSG), a species with declining or vulnerable populations across their range. Lek disturbance buffers define areas around leks where anthropogenic disturbance is not permitted and have been considered for potential conservation strategies across GUSG habitat. Currently there is minimal information available on the effectiveness of the size of defined lek disturbance buffers. This study focused on two GUSG populations, the smaller Crawford population and a segment of the larger Gunnison Basin population. We utilized global positioning system location data on GUSG to evaluate seasonal use within three lek disturbance buffers, then compared and contrasted results between the two populations. The Crawford GUSG population showed increased movements from breeding season to late brood-rearing season and in winter returned to a usage pattern similar to the breeding season. Comparatively, the western Gunnison Basin GUSG population showed considerable movement throughout the entire year. In addition to these differences, we noted remarkable differences in distance between active leks, home range size, and total daily distance traveled between Crawford and western Gunnison Basin populations. Lek disturbance buffers created using the standard protocol provided varying protection depending on the distance between leks and number of leks. In small populations, the disturbance buffers overlapped each other, thus producing a smaller total lek disturbance buffer area. In addition to adding to the general body of knowledge of a little-studied species, our study had two important findings: 1) the use of empirical cumulative distribution demonstrated considerable differences in lek disturbance buffer use between the Crawford and the western Gunnison Basin populations, and 2) lek disturbance buffers did not provide equal protection for all populations on the basis of their current definition and derivation. We anticipate that land managers will find our results useful and informative when developing land management plans for the conservation of GUSG. Our analysis showed that the variability between populations and species is important for managers to consider when developing conservation strategies, especially for small populations.

Conservation status and threats to grouse worldwide: an overview

A major task of the Grouse Specialist Group is to compile an IUCN/SSC Action Plan to assess threats and propose conservation actions for all grouse species worldwide. This paper provides an overview to the conservation status of and major threats to grouse based on information collected during the preparation of the Grouse Action Plan. Three species, Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi, Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi and Siberian grouse Falcipennis falcipennis, are listed as globally near‐threatened or data deficient, one newly‐recognised species, Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus, is listed as globally endangered and two subspecies, Attwater's prairie chicken Tympanuchus cupido attwateri and Cantabrian capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus, qualify to be listed as globally threatened according to IUCN criteria. At a national level, 14 of the 18 species are red‐listed in at least one country. Populations at the southern edge of a species' range and in densely populated regions are most often red‐listed. Based on questionnaire results from 38 countries, habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation due to human land use activities are the major threats to grouse viability. Exploitation, predation and human disturbance were regionally felt to be critical. Major threats and their causes are reviewed based on questionnaire results and the literature. Integrating habitat preservation and human land use practices is concluded to be the major challenge to grouse conservationists worldwide.