Reversing Tree Encroachment Increases Usable Space for Sage‐Grouse during the Breeding Season

Abstract Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation concern and is highly susceptible to mortality from West Nile virus (WNV). Culex tarsalis, a mosquito species, is the suspected primary vector for transmitting WNV to sage-grouse. We captured, radio-tagged, and monitored female sage-grouse to estimate breeding season (April 15 to September 15) survival, 2016–2017. Deceased sage-grouse were tested for active WNV; live-captured and hunter-harvested sage-grouse were tested for WNV antibody titers. Additionally, we trapped mosquitoes with CO2-baited traps 4 nights per week (542 trap nights) to estimate WNV minimum infection rate (MIR). Eight sage-grouse mortalities occurred during the WNV seasons of 2016 and 2017, 5 had recoverable tissue, and 1 of 5 tested positive for WNV infection. Survival varied temporally with sage-grouse biological seasons, not WNV seasonality. Survival was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.56–0.78; n = 74) during the reproductive season (April 1 to September 15). Mammalian predators were the leading suspected cause of mortality (40%), followed by unknown cause (25%), avian predation (15%), unknown predation (15%), and WNV (5%). These results indicate WNV was not a significant driver of adult sage-grouse survival during this study. Three sage-grouse (1.9%; 95% CI: 0.5–5.9%) contained WNV antibodies. We captured 12,472 mosquitoes of which 3,933 (32%) were C. tarsalis. The estimated WNV MIR of C. tarsalis during 2016 and 2017 was 3.3 and 1.6, respectively. Our results suggest sage-grouse in South Dakota have limited exposure to WNV, and WNV was not a significant source of sage-grouse mortality in South Dakota during 2016 and 2017. Based on our finding that a majority of sage-grouse in South Dakota are susceptible to WNV infection, WNV could potentially have an impact on the population during an epizootic event; however, when WNV is at or near-endemic levels, it appears to have little impact on sage-grouse survival.

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

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management ◽

10.3996/012018-jfwm-003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 51-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Douglas S. Ouren ◽

Brian S. Cade ◽

Kenneth W. Holsinger ◽

Melissa S. Siders

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Cumulative Distribution ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Small Populations ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Brood Rearing ◽

Centrocercus Minimus ◽

Body Of Knowledge ◽

Management Plans

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.

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The influence of season, temperature, and absorptive state on sage grouse metabolism

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z94-122 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 72 (5) ◽

pp. 898-903 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mark H. Sherfy ◽

Peter J. Pekins

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

Seasonal Change ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽

Standard Metabolic Rate ◽

Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Critical Temperatures ◽

Males And Females ◽

Endogenous Reserves

We used indirect respiration calorimetry to measure the metabolism of six adult sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) during winter, spring, and summer. During winter the metabolic rate of fed birds was higher (P < 0.05) than that of fasted birds. The standard metabolic rate (SMR) of females (0.692 mL O2∙g−1∙h−1) was higher than of males (0.583 mL O2∙g−1∙h−1) in winter; in both sexes SMR was higher in winter than in summer. Females' SMR was lower (P = 0.0001) in spring than in winter. Lower critical temperatures of both males and females were substantially lower in winter (−0.6 °C, −4.8 °C) than in summer (14.9 °C, 14.8 °C). Although seasonally elevated, the SMR of sage grouse in winter is low in comparison with that of other galliforms with northern distributions. Thermoregulation during a winter night at −10 °C would result in minimal (<5%) expenditure of endogenous reserves by either sex. Thermoregulation and SMR in winter are more energetically costly to female sage grouse than to males, and may necessitate increased behavioral thermoregulation by females. Seasonal change in SMR differs between the sexes, and is probably influenced by the energetic demands of the breeding season.

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Effect of Melatonin Implantation to Sperm Donor Rams on Post-thaw Viability and Acrosomal Integrity of Sperm Cells in the Breeding and Non-breeding Season

Reproduction in Domestic Animals ◽

10.1046/j.1439-0531.2001.d01-40.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 36 (3-4) ◽

pp. 211-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

A Kaya ◽

M Aksoy ◽

N Baspınar ◽

C Yıldız ◽

MB Ataman

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Sperm Cells ◽

Sperm Donor ◽

Acrosomal Integrity

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Observation on the breeding biology of Polypedates teraiensis (Dubois, 1987) (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae)

Science Vision ◽

10.33493/scivis.17.01.05 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 25-32

Author(s):

Jacinta Lalchhanhimi ◽

Lalremsanga H.T.

Keyword(s):

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Sound Production ◽

Reproductive Function ◽

Breeding Biology ◽

Tree Frog ◽

University Campus ◽

Morphometric Measurements ◽

Advertisement Calls ◽

Males And Females

The breeding biology of tree frog, Polypedates teraiensis was studied during the breeding season at Mizoram University Campus. It was found that sound production by male during the breeding season was primarily a reproductive function and advertisement calls attract females to the breeding areas and announce other males that a given territory is occupied. The aim of this study was to provide the detailed information on the breeding behaviour and the advertisement calls of Polypedates teraiensis. The morphometric measurements of the amplecting pairs (males and females) for sexual dimorphism along with clutch sizes were also studied.

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