U.S. Geological Survey Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Ecosystem Research Annual Report for 2018
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Abstract
The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem extends across a large portion of the Western United States, and the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is one of the iconic species of this ecosystem. Greater sage-grouse populations occur in 11 States and are dependent on relatively large expanses of sagebrush-dominated habitat. Sage-grouse populations have been experiencing long-term declines owing to multiple stressors, including interactions among fire, exotic plant invasions, and human land uses, which have resulted in significant loss, fragmentation, and degradation of landscapes once dominated by sagebrush. In addition to the sage-grouse, over 350 species of plants and animals are dependent on the sagebrush ecosystem.
Increasing knowledge about how these species and the sagebrush ecosystem respond to these stressors and to management actions can inform and improve strategies to maintain existing areas of intact sagebrush and restore degraded landscapes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a broad research program focused on providing the science needed to inform these strategies and to help land and resource managers at the Federal, State, Tribal, and local levels as they work towards sustainable sage-grouse populations and restored landscapes for the broad range of uses critical to stakeholders in the Western United States.
USGS science has provided a foundation for major land and resource management decisions including those that precluded the need to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. The USGS is continuing to build on that foundation to inform science-based decisions to help support local economies and the continued conservation, management, and restoration of the sagebrush ecosystem.
This report contains descriptions of USGS sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem research projects that are ongoing or were active during 2018 and is organized into five thematic areas: Fire, Invasive Species, Restoration, Sagebrush, Sage-Grouse, and Other Sagebrush-Associated Species; and Climate and Weather.
Suggested Citation
Hanser, S.E., ed., 2018, U.S. Geological Survey sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem research annual report for 2018: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1446, 67 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1446.
ISSN: 2330-5703 (online)
ISSN: 1067-084X (print)
Table of Contents
- Research To Support the Management of Sage-Grouse and the Sagebrush Ecosystem
- Structure of the U.S. Geological Survey Sage-Grouse and Sage Ecosystem Research Program
- List of Projects
- Project Descriptions
- References Cited
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | U.S. Geological Survey sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem research annual report for 2018 |
| Series title | Circular |
| Series number | 1446 |
| ISBN | 978-1-4113-4526-9 |
| DOI | 10.3133/cir1446 |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Office of the AD Ecosystems |
| Description | iv, 67 p. |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |