Synthesizing and analyzing long-term monitoring data: A greater sage-grouse case study

Michael S. O'Donnell; David R. Edmunds; Cameron L. Aldridge; Julie A. Heinrichs; Adrian P. Monroe; Peter S. Coates; Brian G. Prochazka; Thomas J Christiansen; Steve E. Hanser; Lief A. Wiechman; Avery A Cook; Shawn P. Espinosa; Lee J. Foster; Kathleen A. Griffin; Jesse L. Kolar; Katherine Miller; Ann M. Moser; Thomas E. Remington; Travis J Runia; Leslie A Schreiber; Michael A Schroeder; San J Stiver; Nyssa I Whitford; Catherine S Wightman

doi:10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101327

Synthesizing and analyzing long-term monitoring data: A greater sage-grouse case study

Ecological Informatics

By: Michael S. O'Donnell, David R. Edmunds, Cameron L. Aldridge, Julie A. Heinrichs, Adrian P. Monroe, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Thomas J Christiansen, Steve E. Hanser, Lief A. Wiechman, Avery A Cook, Shawn P. Espinosa, Lee J. Foster, Kathleen A. Griffin, Jesse L. Kolar, Katherine Miller, Ann M. Moser, Thomas E. Remington, Travis J Runia, Leslie A Schreiber, Michael A Schroeder, San J Stiver, Nyssa I Whitford, and Catherine S Wightman

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101327

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More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
Data Releases:
- USGS data release - grsg_lekdb: Compiling and standardizing greater sage-grouse lek databases (version 1.3.0)
- USGS data release - grsg_lekdb: Compiling and standardizing greater sage-grouse lek databases, version 1.2.0
- USGS data release - grsg_lekdb: Compiling and standardizing greater sage-grouse lek databases, version 1.1.0
- USGS data release - grsg_lekdb: Compiling and standardizing greater sage-grouse lek databases
Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
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Abstract

Long-term monitoring of natural resources is imperative for increasing the understanding of ecosystem processes, services, and how to manage those ecosystems to maintain or improve function. Challenges with using these data may occur because methods of monitoring changed over time, multiple organizations collect and manage data differently, and monetary resources fluctuate, affecting many aspects of data. Because many species respond to changes in habitat conditions and predator-prey relationships across different spatial scales that span management boundaries, greater efforts for collaborating are essential. We demonstrate the challenges and methods for standardizing greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) long-term monitoring data across the species range in the western United States to inform population modeling needs identified by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. We used automated and repeatable methods of standardizing data via custom open-source software (grsg_lekdb) to improve the scientific integrity of future sage-grouse population assessments within and among states. Data standardization included reconciling uses of different terminology and expunging unusable data, resulting in the removal of 26% of data records due to database insertion errors and modifications to >1 million values to correct formatting and typing errors. Our approaches maximized the inclusion of usable data and identified data that could inform detection probabilities, population trends, and monitoring guidelines. Using sage-grouse databases as an example, we identified the importance of data management and how quality assurance and quality control measures can improve the usefulness of these data for future research needs. Our methods of using informatics and concluding recommendations can support similar endeavors of flora and fauna monitoring programs, whether those efforts are to use existing data or support new monitoring programs.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Synthesizing and analyzing long-term monitoring data: A greater sage-grouse case study
Series title	Ecological Informatics
DOI	10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101327
Volume	63
Year Published	2021
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Contributing office(s)	Fort Collins Science Center
Description	101327, 16 p.
Country	United States
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page