UW Researchers Honored for Sage Grouse Study by The Wildlife Society
A team of University of Wyoming (UW) scientists has received the prestigious 2024 Best Monograph award from The Wildlife Society for their groundbreaking study on the effects of sagebrush reduction on greater sage grouse, Oil City News reports.
The recognition highlights the researchers’ comprehensive analysis, published in the journal Wildlife Monographs, which examines the impact of habitat management practices on sage grouse populations in Wyoming.
The Wildlife Society, an international organization focused on wildlife conservation and research, annually honors professionals who have made significant contributions to wildlife science and management. This award underscores the importance of long-term, data-driven studies in advancing wildlife conservation efforts.
The study, titled Response of Greater Sage-Grouse to Sagebrush Reduction Treatments in Wyoming Big Sagebrush, was led by Jeff Beck, a UW professor of ecosystem science and management. Beck expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the study’s broad scope and the robust data collected over nearly a decade.
The nine-year study, conducted in central Wyoming, investigated the effects of common sagebrush reduction methods, including mowing and herbicide application, on greater sage grouse populations. Contrary to conventional management practices, the research found that these treatments did not enhance sage grouse habitat or improve population metrics such as nest success, brood success, or female survival.
“Our results may challenge a historic paradigm for sagebrush management,” said co-author Anna Chalfoun, associate professor at UW and assistant unit leader of the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
The study revealed that sage grouse showed a slight tendency to avoid areas where sagebrush had been reduced, and there was no observable benefit to the birds’ primary food sources, such as invertebrates and herbaceous forbs.
The research was a collaborative endeavor involving current and former UW researchers and various wildlife professionals, including Kurt Smith, Jason LeVan, Anna Chalfoun, Thomas Christiansen, Stanley Harter, and Sue Oberlie. Their collective expertise contributed to the detailed analysis and long-term monitoring of over 600 female sage grouse.
Thomas Christiansen, a retired sage grouse program coordinator with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, highlighted the practical implications of the study:
“We were able to answer questions about whether or not specific habitat treatments consistent with the Wyoming Sage-Grouse Core Area Policy were beneficial, benign, or harmful, thereby ensuring future conservation efforts and dollars are more effectively spent.”
