A decline in habitat quality and quantity in the southern Great Plains is a driving factor in population declines of endemic grassland birds, insects, and native plants. Native grassland species face habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as habitat degradation from pesticide use, invasive species, woody encroachment, disease, and climate change. Few baseline datasets exist to compare long term change over time from both local and landscape (ecoregion) levels. These datasets could then be used in conjunction with conservation decisions by local entities as well as training datasets for future modeling efforts.
