Effect of energy development and human activity on the use of sand sagebrush habitat by lesser prairie-chickens in southwestern Kansas

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In southwestern Kansas, the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is most abundant in mixed- and short-grass prairies dominated by sand sagebrush south of the Arkansas River. Generally population declines have been attributed to deterioration of the sandsage habitat and the conversion of suitable habitat to intensive agriculture. (Between 1960 and 1975 approximately 60% of the native sand sagebrush prairie in Finney County was converted to extensive agriculture.) But even though most of the large-scale conversion of this prairie to intensive agriculture ceased in the mid-1980s, lek indices to lesser prairie-chicken populations continued to decline in southwestern Kansas. A 6-year study beginning in 1997 determined that low nest success and poor chick survival were the most important factors contributing to the decline. The declines occurred, however, even though large expanses of sand sagebrush prairie remained in the county. Studies in 2003 indicated prairie-chickens appeared to avoid suitable habitat near anthropogenic features (e.g., roads, buildings, oil and gas wellheads, electric transmission lines, center-pivot irrigation fields). The human population of the county had increased by over 25% between 1980 and 2000, coincidental with various constructions and energy developments and explorations. These changes coincided with declines in lek survey indices in the 1980s and 1990s. This study was conducted to assess the magnitude of the impacts of anthropogenic factors on the use of sand sagebrush habitat by lesser prairie-chickens, with efforts focused on the remaining habitat in Finney, Kearny, and Hamilton counties of southwestern Kansas. Locations of anthropogenic features, including transmission lines, in the sand sagebrush habitat were entered into a GIS system, though small anthropogenic features had to be omitted due to the scale of satellite images. Movements of transmitter-equipped female prairie-chickens were monitored daily, April–June, to locate 178 nests. From these data, distances to anthropogenic features avoided was determined, use and non-use areas were quantified, and “avoidance buffers” were determined. Vegetation measurements were taken from random locations. The authors concluded that lesser prairie-chicken nests were located farther from five of six anthropogenic features than would be expected at random. Essentially, the presence of anthropogenic features reduced the suitability of the surrounding sand sagebrush habitat for nesting. Though the authors did not attempt to determine causative factors associated with avoidance of these features for nesting, they found noise and movement to be likely reasons. They determined that the acreage of suitable habitat made less suitable for the prairie-chickens by the presence of anthropogenic features is substantial and concluded from their and other studies that any negative impacts of anthropogenic features on nesting lesser prairie-chickens is of great concern. They recommend that the negative impacts of anthropogenic features should be considered when assessing suitability of habitat for lesser-prairie chickens, purchasing or leasing habitat for these birds, or implementing management actions for their benefit. The avoidance buffers around features (oil and oil/gas wellheads, electric transmission lines, buildings, and other features) must be recognized and integrated into assessments of development (e.g., of petroleum and wind energy facilities). The authors also suggest that results of their study likely apply to other prairie grouse species and so studies need to be conducted to determine impacts on individual species in various landscapes.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Birds

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Robel RJ, Harrington JA Jr, Hagen CA, Pitman JC, Reker RR. 2004. Effect of energy development and human activity on the use of sand sagebrush habitat by lesser prairie-chickens in southwestern Kansas. In: Wildlife Management Institute Publications Department, editor. Transactions of the Sixty-ninth North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference; 2004 March 16–20; Spokane, WA. [place unknown]: Wildlife Management Institute. p. 251–266. [accessed 2015 Jun 1]. http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org/store/product.php?productid=1...