Gunnison sage-grouse habitat suitability surface for Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims satellite population (breeding, patch): Colorado Parks and Wildlife critical habitat extent (southwestern Colorado)
Dates
Publication Date
2021-12-09
Start Date
1991
End Date
2016
Citation
Saher, J., O'Donnell, M.S., Aldridge, C.L., and Heinrichs, J.A., 2021, Gunnison sage-grouse habitat suitability of six satellite populations in southwestern Colorado: San Miguel, Crawford, Piñon Mesa, Dove Creek, Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims, and Poncha Pass: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P93WFW13.
Summary
The Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) habitat suitability surface for Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims satellite population represented here reflects breeding season at a patch scale context (30 m x 30 m pixel and radius window extents [radius] of 45 m, 120 m, 180 m, 270 m, 390 m, and 570 m). Habitat suitability estimated for areas constrained within the thresholded landscape model (containing 95% of use locations) developed for Colorado Parks and Wildlife critical habitat extent (southwestern Colorado). This population did not have sufficient use locations to model habitat, and therefore, we extrapolated the Crawford population (nearest and considered most similar to Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims habitat) models to this location. [...]
Summary
The Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) habitat suitability surface for Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims satellite population represented here reflects breeding season at a patch scale context (30 m x 30 m pixel and radius window extents [radius] of 45 m, 120 m, 180 m, 270 m, 390 m, and 570 m). Habitat suitability estimated for areas constrained within the thresholded landscape model (containing 95% of use locations) developed for Colorado Parks and Wildlife critical habitat extent (southwestern Colorado). This population did not have sufficient use locations to model habitat, and therefore, we extrapolated the Crawford population (nearest and considered most similar to Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims habitat) models to this location. However, roads were not digitized for the Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims population, so we selected the top model from Crawford that did not include transportation. We developed habitat selection models for Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus), a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. We followed a management-centric modeling approach that sought to balance the need to evaluate the consistency of key habitat conditions and improvement actions across multiple, distinct populations, while allowing context-specific environmental variables and spatial scales to nuance selection responses. Models were developed for six isolated satellite populations (San Miguel, Crawford, Piñon Mesa, Dove Creek, Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims, and Poncha Pass) from use locations collected between 1991 and 2016 (see larger citation for map of population boundaries). For each population, models were developed at two life stages (breeding and summer) and at two hierarchical scales (landscape and patch). We used multi-scale and seasonal resource selection analyses to quantify relationships between environmental conditions and sites used by animals. These resource selection function models relied on spatial data describing habitat conditions at different spatial scales, where environmental conditions differ, and habitat selection occur at different spatial scales for different available resources.
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Related External Resources
Type: Related Primary Publication
Saher, D.J., O’Donnell, M.S., Aldridge, C.L., and Heinrichs, J.A., 2021, Balancing model generality and specificity in management-focused habitat selection models for Gunnison sage-grouse: Global Ecology and Conservation, p. e01935, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01935.
Identifying, protecting, and restoring habitats for declining wildlife populations is foundational to conservation and recovery planning for any species at risk of decline. Resource selection analysis is a key tool to assess habitat and prescribe management actions. Conservation, species recovery, and habitat management efforts are needed in six isolated satellite populations (San Miguel, Crawford, Piñon Mesa, Dove Creek, Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims, and Poncha Pass), where environmental conditions differ, and the already small number of birds is declining. Resource selection analyses contribute to our understanding of species management by identifying key factors influencing selection (e.g., strength of covariates) and predicted habitat suitability. Our Gunnison sage-grouse case study points to specific opportunities for habitat restoration or improvement that may otherwise be missed with conventional habitat suitability modeling approaches. The inclusion of hierarchical seasonal habitat selection, varying ecological contexts, and a range of scales of influence yielded general insights regarding the reliability of crucial management variables and associated actions, as well as context-specific considerations that could be vital to achieving meaningful habitat improvements. These habitat suitability maps (raster surfaces) are intended to help wildlife and land managers gauge how Gunnison sage-grouse currently use habitat within each population and how changes to existing habitat conditions through restoration might improve habitat most effectively.
