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Rabon J, Nuñez C, Coates P, Ricca M, Johnson T. Ecological correlates of fecal corticosterone metabolites in female Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Measurement of physiological responses can reveal effects of ecological conditions on an animal and correlate with demographic parameters. Ecological conditions for many animal species have deteriorated as a function of invasive plants and habitat fragmentation. Expansion of juniper (genus Juniperus L.) trees and invasion of annual grasses into sagebrush (genus Artemisia L.) ecosystems have contributed to habitat degradation for Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte, 1827); hereinafter Sage-Grouse), a species of conservation concern throughout its range. We evaluated relationships between habitat use in a landscape modified by juniper expansion and annual grasses and corticosterone metabolite levels (stress responses) in feces (FCORTm) of female Sage-Grouse. We used remotely sensed data to estimate vegetation cover within the home ranges of hens and accounted for factors that influence FCORTm in other vertebrates, such as age and weather. We collected 35 fecal samples from 22 radio-collared hens during the 2017–2018 brood-rearing season (24 May–26 July) in southwestern Idaho (USA). Concentrations of corticosterone increased with home range size but decreased with reproductive effort and temperature. The importance of home range size suggests that maintaining or improving habitats that promote smaller home ranges would likely facilitate a lower stress response by hens, which should benefit Sage-Grouse survival and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.C. Rabon
- University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA
| | - C.M.V. Nuñez
- University of Memphis, 3774 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - P.S. Coates
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 800 Business Park Drive, Dixon, CA 95620, USA
| | - M.A. Ricca
- Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 777 Northwest Ninth Street #400, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - T.N. Johnson
- University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA
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Kirol CP, Kesler DC, Walker BL, Fedy BC. Coupling Tracking Technologies to Maximize Efficiency in Avian Research. WILDLIFE SOC B 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P. Kirol
- School of Environment, Resources and SustainabilityUniversity of Waterloo Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Dylan C. Kesler
- The Institute for Bird Populations P.O. Box 1346 Point Reyes Station CA 94956 USA
| | - Brett L. Walker
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife 711 Independent Avenue Grand Junction CO 81521 USA
| | - Bradley C. Fedy
- School of Environment, Resources and SustainabilityUniversity of Waterloo Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada
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Kirol CP, Smith KT, Graf NE, Dinkins JB, Lebeau CW, Maechtle TL, Sutphin AL, Beck JL. Greater Sage‐Grouse Response to the Physical Footprint of Energy Development. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P. Kirol
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management University of Wyoming Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Kurt T. Smith
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management University of Wyoming Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Nicholas E. Graf
- Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center University of Wyoming Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Jonathan B. Dinkins
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management University of Wyoming Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Chad W. Lebeau
- Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. 200 South 2nd St., Suite B Laramie WY 82070 USA
| | | | - Andrew L. Sutphin
- Big Horn Environmental Consultants 730 E. Burkitt Sheridan WY 82801 USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Beck
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management University of Wyoming Laramie WY 82071 USA
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