A multi-species approach to manage effects of land cover and weather on upland game birds

Loss and degradation of grasslands in the Great Plains region has resulted
in major declines in abundance of grassland bird species. To ensure future
viability of grassland bird populations, it is crucial to evaluate
specific effects of environmental factors among species to determine
drivers of population decline and develop effective conservation
strategies. We used threshold models to quantify effects of land cover and
weather changes on lesser and greater prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus
pallidicinctus and T. cupido, respectively), northern bobwhites (Colinus
virginianus), and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). We
demonstrated a novel approach for estimating landscape conditions needed
to optimize abundance across multiple species at a variety of spatial
scales. Abundance of all four species was highest following wet summers
and dry winters. Prairie-chicken and ring-necked pheasant abundance was
highest following cool winters, while northern bobwhite abundance was
highest following warm winters. Greater prairie-chicken and northern
bobwhite abundance was also highest following cooler summers. Optimal
abundance of each species occurred in landscapes that represented a
grassland and cropland mosaic, though prairie-chicken abundance was
optimized in landscapes with more grassland and less edge habitat than
northern bobwhites and ring-necked pheasants. Because these effects
differed among species, managing for an optimal landscape for multiple
species may not be the optimal scenario for any one species.