Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming
Background Spatial scale is important when studying ecological processes. The Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large sexually dimorphic tetraonid that is endemic to the sagebrush biome of western North America. The impacts of oil and gas (OAG) development at individual leks has b...
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-08-01
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| author | Rob R. Ramey II Joseph L. Thorley Alexander S. Ivey |
| author_facet | Rob R. Ramey II Joseph L. Thorley Alexander S. Ivey |
| author_sort | Rob R. Ramey II |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Spatial scale is important when studying ecological processes. The Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large sexually dimorphic tetraonid that is endemic to the sagebrush biome of western North America. The impacts of oil and gas (OAG) development at individual leks has been well-documented. However, no previous studies have quantified the population-level response. Methods Hierarchical models were used to estimate the effects of the areal disturbance due to well pads as well as climatic variation on individual lek counts and Greater sage-grouse populations (management units) over 32 years. The lek counts were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models while the management units were analyzed using Gompertz population dynamic models. The models were fitted using frequentist and Bayesian methods. An information-theoretic approach was used to identify the most important spatial scale and time lags. The relative importance of OAG and climate at the local and population-level scales was assessed using information-theoretic (Akaike’s weights) and estimation (effect size) statistics. Results At the local scale, OAG was an important negative predictor of the lek count. At the population scale, there was only weak support for OAG as a predictor of density changes but the estimated impacts on the long-term carrying capacity were consistent with summation of the local impacts. Regional climatic variation, as indexed by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, was an important positive predictor of density changes at both the local and population level (particularly in the most recent part of the time series). Conclusions Additional studies to reduce the uncertainty in the range of possible effects of OAG at the population scale are required. Wildlife agencies need to account for the effects of regional climatic variation when managing sage-grouse populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:53:03Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:53:03Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-4df91b2991bc49f4a967415c914894cc2023-12-03T10:14:40ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-08-016e541710.7717/peerj.5417Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in WyomingRob R. Ramey II0Joseph L. Thorley1Alexander S. Ivey2Wildlife Science International, Nederland, CO, USAPoisson Consulting, Nelson, BC, CanadaTerra Cognito GIS Services, Eldora, CO, USABackground Spatial scale is important when studying ecological processes. The Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large sexually dimorphic tetraonid that is endemic to the sagebrush biome of western North America. The impacts of oil and gas (OAG) development at individual leks has been well-documented. However, no previous studies have quantified the population-level response. Methods Hierarchical models were used to estimate the effects of the areal disturbance due to well pads as well as climatic variation on individual lek counts and Greater sage-grouse populations (management units) over 32 years. The lek counts were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models while the management units were analyzed using Gompertz population dynamic models. The models were fitted using frequentist and Bayesian methods. An information-theoretic approach was used to identify the most important spatial scale and time lags. The relative importance of OAG and climate at the local and population-level scales was assessed using information-theoretic (Akaike’s weights) and estimation (effect size) statistics. Results At the local scale, OAG was an important negative predictor of the lek count. At the population scale, there was only weak support for OAG as a predictor of density changes but the estimated impacts on the long-term carrying capacity were consistent with summation of the local impacts. Regional climatic variation, as indexed by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, was an important positive predictor of density changes at both the local and population level (particularly in the most recent part of the time series). Conclusions Additional studies to reduce the uncertainty in the range of possible effects of OAG at the population scale are required. Wildlife agencies need to account for the effects of regional climatic variation when managing sage-grouse populations.https://peerj.com/articles/5417.pdfLek countsGreater sage-grousePacific Decadal OscillationClimatePopulation dynamicsOil and gas |
| spellingShingle | Rob R. Ramey II Joseph L. Thorley Alexander S. Ivey Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming PeerJ Lek counts Greater sage-grouse Pacific Decadal Oscillation Climate Population dynamics Oil and gas |
| title | Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming |
| title_full | Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming |
| title_fullStr | Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming |
| title_full_unstemmed | Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming |
| title_short | Local and population-level responses of Greater sage-grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in Wyoming |
| title_sort | local and population level responses of greater sage grouse to oil and gas development and climatic variation in wyoming |
| topic | Lek counts Greater sage-grouse Pacific Decadal Oscillation Climate Population dynamics Oil and gas |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/5417.pdf |
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