Gunnison Sage-Grouse
| Gunnison Sage-Grouse | |
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| A male Gunnison Sage-Grouse | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia
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| Phylum: | Chordata
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| Class: | Aves
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| Order: | Galliformes
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| Family: | Phasianidae
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| Genus: | Centrocercus
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| Species: | Centrocercus minimus
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The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is a species of grouse found in the United States. Long considered the same species as the Greater Sage-Grouse, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was identified as a separate species in 2000.[1] The Gunnison Sage-Grouse has a mottled brown and white appearance, with males being distinguished by long pointed tail feathers and yellow air sacs.[2] Females have less elaborate plumage and are smaller.[2] The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is found only in Colorado and Utah in eight isolated populations.[3] It is often abbreviated as GUSG in scientific literature. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse relies on sagebrush habitats for shelter, nesting, and food; it utilizes leks for mating.[4] Populations and range have declined over time; habitat fragmentation further limits this species.[5] Listed as an endangered species under the IUCN, but as threatened under the ESA, the species has been of concern since the early 21st century[5][6] Human-made threats, mainly environmental disturbance via noise and habitat modification, negatively impact the Gunnison Sage-Grouse's survival.[7] Conservation efforts have been outlined but most have not yet been implemented.[8][5]
Description and behavior[edit]
Physical characteristics[edit]
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is a chicken-like bird that has a mottled brown and white appearance with black bellies and yellow-green eyes.[2] The males are distinguished by white stripes on their longer pointed tail feathers, white chests, and the presence of yellow air sacs on their chests.[9][3] Males also have long hair-like feathers, called filoplumes, on their necks during the breeding season. The females have less elaborate plumage and are much smaller than the males. Male Gunnison Sage-Grouse are 3.5 to 5 lbs, whereas females are only 2.4 to 3.1 lbs.[2]
Due to the similarities between the Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouses, they were originally believed to be the same species, just called the sage grouse. However, geographic isolation and differences in genetics have resulted in the two birds becoming known as separate species. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is less genetically diverse than the Greater Sage-Grouse.[2] While the Gunnison Sage-Grouse has nearly the same plumage as the Greater Sage-Grouse, it is roughly one-third of the size.[3][2]
Behavior[edit]
The behavior of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is not well-studied, however we do know some of its living habits and migration patterns.[7]
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse feeds via foraging behavior, foraging in open habitats at ground level and sites with higher canopy cover and taller sagebrush.[7] It usually roosts on ground surfaces in groups of three to five individuals, and males roost alone during the breeding season.[7] It is a ground-dwelling species and only hides or flies when threatened.[7] Gunnison sage-grouse are highly social among the same sex during the winter.[7] In the fall and early winter, the Gunnison sage-grouse moves from high to low elevations, preferring more sheltered areas; in the winter, it moves to ridge tops and areas where snow does not exceed 50 to 60 cm; in the spring, breeding areas are opposite of those preferred in the fall and winter.[7] The Gunnison sage-grouse only migrates short distances (local migration).[7] During the day, it cleans itself via dust-baths and preening.[7]
Interestingly, it can outfly a golden eagle.[7]
See diet, reproduction, and life history sections for more information.
Diet[edit]
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse feeds primarily on sagebrush, although it also consumes other grasses, forbs; and in summer, leaves and insects.[4][8][7] The Gunnison Sage-Grouse differs from many avian species in that it is unable to digest seeds.[4]. Its dependence on sagebrush as a dietary mainstay deepens its reliance on sagebrush habitats and increases the importance of sagebrush habitat conservation.
Reproduction[edit]
Gunnison Sage-Grouse mate in the summer months, gathering at leks to watch male courtship displays. Most females mate with the same male, resulting in only a few males in the population mating. During the breeding season, chases and wing fights are common occurrences. Once eggs have hatched, males are not involved in the caretaking process, providing no care or resources for their young.[7].
Females build nests of plant material, usually in slight ground depressions in the shade of vertical vegetative cover.[4][7] They lay approximately 7-9 eggs, which incubate for typically 25-27 days.[4] These eggs are colored various shades of green with brown dots, ranging from "deep olive-buff and light olive-buff to greenish drab and greenish white with lighter shades of brown or olive green".[7] The young leave the nest relatively soon after hatching, as Gunnison Sage-Grouse is primarily a ground-dwelling species.[7][4]
Life history[edit]
The typical lifespan of a Gunnison Sage-Grouse is about 5 years[5]. To display courtship, males puff out their white chests, inflate their two yellow air sacs, raise and spread their tails, and throw their heads back as air sacs are deflated with faint popping sounds resembling bubbles. Females visit display grounds (leks) to choose their mate.[4]
Nesting begins in mid-April and continues into July.[3] Often, nest sites are located on the ground in shallow depressions under sagebrush or clumps of grass.[4] They are built by females and are lined with plant material[4]. Females usually lay 7 to 9 olive-buff eggs and incubate the eggs for 25 to 27 days[4]. The young leave the nest shortly after hatching. They are taken care of by the females but must feed themselves. They are able to take short flights at 1 to 2 weeks old and become relatively strong by 3 to 5 weeks of age.[7][4]
Survival for yearlings, females, and males differ geographically. In Colorado, both female yearlings and adults have a survival rate of about 55%; male yearlings and adults have survival rates of 52% and 38% respectively.[10]. In general, males tend to have lower survival rates because of sexual dimorphism and greater predation rates.[10] In addition, the survival rate of juveniles is lowered by the decline in brood size during the summer, as well as increased predation due to a lack of cover and exposure to drought and fire.[7]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Habitat[edit]
Gunnison Sage-Grouse populations correlate with sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems in North America.[8]. Sagebrush is used as nesting material, food, and cover.[1][5][8] Year-round presence of sagebrush ensures the continued safety of Gunnison Sage-Grouse from predators, with larger and more contiguous areas being more preferable.[3]. During the summer, Gunnison Sage-Grouse also makes use of riparian and wetland ecosystems for feeding their young.[3]
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse typically occupies an elevation range of 2250-2550 meters.[5]
Leks are an important aspect of Gunnison Sage-Grouse breeding rituals, with males and females congregating at leks for exhibition of mating displays during the summer.[7] As described by the National Audubon Society, “Leks occur in valley bottoms, basins, ridges, and broad sloping expanses including agricultural fields with alfalfa, wheat, and pinto beans as well as former crop fields…[and] irrigated pastures.”[7]
Current distribution and range[edit]
Gunnison Sage-Grouse and sagebrush habitat distributions are closely aligned.[3] Currently, this species is found in eight main population centers, mostly in Colorado, with one center located in Utah (see map below).[3] These population areas are discontiguous. Fragmentation of these habitats contributes to genetic diversity and difficulties in implementing conservation efforts.[7]
In Colorado, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitats are identified as the Pinon Mesa, Dove Creek, San Miguel Basin, Poncha Pass, Gunnison Basin (the most populous), Crawford, and Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Simo Mesa habitats. In Utah, Gunnison Sage-Grouse can be found in the identified Monticello habitat.[3] The Cerro-Summit-Cimarron-Simo Mesa habitat influences gene flow between the populations, as it may act as a stepping stone between the larger Gunnison and San Miguel habitats.[11]
Of their current distribution, 54% of Gunnison Sage-Grouse are located on federal lands, 3% on state lands, and 43% on private lands, splitting conservation efforts between national, state, and private interests.[3]
Temporal changes in range and population size[edit]
The range of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse historically included central and southwestern Colorado, southeastern Utah, northwestern New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.[3] However, due to human settlement and other threats to the species (see threats section), the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is currently found only in parts of southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, an estimated 7% of its historic range.[3] Habitat occupied by Gunnison Sage-Grouse also no longer overlaps or is adjacent to that of the Greater Sage-Grouse, which has contributed to the differentiation between the species.[2]
Since the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was not recognized as a separate species until 2000, little information regarding its population size has been recorded. However, there is evidence of a significant decline of about 45% to 82% in the Gunnison Sage-Grouse population since the early 1900s[12]. In 2005, scientists estimated that there are around 1700 mature Gunnison Sage-Grouse and 2500 to 2600 individuals in total.[5] Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are 5000 mature individuals, but population estimates vary among sources.[11] Fragmentation and the continuing decline in range and population have made conservation efforts harder to implement.[5]
Status and conservation[edit]
Major threats[edit]
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is affected by human threats, as well as non-anthropogenic threats such as invasive species, extreme weather, and temperature extremes resulting from climate change.[5]
Predators[edit]
Main predators of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse include eagles, coyotes, and bobcats. Juveniles additionally fall victim to ravens and foxes. magpies, badgers, and crows are known to destroy Gunnison Sage-Grouse eggs.[7]
Two parasites are known to infect the Gunnison Sage-Grouse: tapeworms and feather lice.[7] Additionally, West Nile virus has been reported in Gunnison Sage-Grouse populations.[13]
Anthropogenic threats[edit]
One of the main human-engineered threats the Gunnison Sage-Grouse faces is environmental disturbance. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse abandons its habitat at a lower threshold of disturbance than the Greater Sage-Grouse.[7] Oil and gas mining and military activity in Colorado and Utah also disturb habitats.[5]
Noise disturbance, namely from nearby roadways, is especially harmful during the mating season, as anthropogenic noise negatively impacts male behavior and lek attendance. Low frequency, high amplitude, and low duration noises are among the most disturbing to males. The planting of crops where leks occur also severely disrupts mating behaviors.[7]
Hunting and poaching of Gunnison Sage-Grouse also threaten already small populations. Although hunting of Gunnison Sage-Grouse has been illegal since the early 2000s, poaching for food and sport still occurs.[5][7] Additionally, the use of pesticides limits the number of insects and forbs available for consumption, especially in summer months.[7]
Furthermore, habitat modification due to residential, commercial, and agricultural development greatly reduces the size of the available sagebrush ecosystem. Dam and water management programs redistribute available water, often away from essential Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat. Construction of transportation corridors and power line routes further fragments habitats.[5]
IUCN and ESA listing history[edit]
Actions to protect or remove species protection for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse have occurred mostly in the last two decades, with government documents regarding such actions being published in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Among these documents are a critical habitat designation document published in 2013 and a Rangewide Conservation Plan published in 2005, indicating that conservation efforts were in place before the species’ official recognition as a protected species. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse was officially listed as threatened in 2014 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.[6] It is listed as a threatened species (79 FR 69192) with designated critical habitat (79 FR 69312)[8]. However, it has been listed as endangered under the IUCN since 2000.[5]
Current conservation efforts[edit]
An action recovery plan was introduced for public comment in late 2019, but there is no implementation progress as recorded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.[6] Prior to the influx of listing-related documents published in the early 2000s (see Listing History section), a working group was formed in 1995 to explore possible conservation efforts; they identified over 200 possible actions in a conservation plan published in 1998.[4][5] Actions proposed by this group included monitoring the population, determining habitat use and causes of mortality, educating the public, preventing habitat fragmentation and loss, restoring lost habitat, and reducing disturbance (especially at leks).[5] Since the species’ official ESA listing in 2014, many of these initiatives have begun to be implemented, some at the federal level. Current conservation efforts include education and awareness programs, identification of sites of highest conservation priority, and the development of a monitoring system.[5] Additionally, hunting the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was criminalized in the early 2000s. At this time, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is not conserved ex-situ, and there is no official habitat site protection.[5]
The draft recovery plan includes criteria that can serve as ideals to inform conservation efforts.[8] These criteria are as follows:
1. ^maintaining sufficiently high male counts (HMCs) for at least 7 out of 9 years (specific targets are described in the draft recovery plan)"[8]
2. "reducing or ameliorating threats associated with habitat loss and degradation in all populations, via regulatory mechanisms or other conservation plans or programs"[8]
The draft recovery plan also outlines recovery actions that emphasize the translocation of Gunnison Sage-Grouse to augment populations, management of motor traffic on federal lands, restoration of habitat, and continued monitoring and research.[11][8] Areas between the San Miguel and Gunnison habitats are suggested to be considered the highest priority for habitat restoration, as they provide a mechanism for gene flow among the isolated populations[11]. Furthermore, models of Gunnison sage-grouse breeding habitat suggest that targeted tree removal and restoration of sagebrush can significantly improve the quality of Gunnison Sage-Grouse breeding habitat.[9]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Young, Jessica R.; Braun, Clait E.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Hupp, Jerry W.; Quinn, Tom W. (December 2000). "A NEW SPECIES OF SAGE-GROUSE (PHASIANIDAE: CENTROCERCUS) FROM SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 112 (4): 445–453. doi:10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0445:ANSOSG]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1559-4491.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Crawford Area Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan. Land Conservation Assistance Network, 2011. Print.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 "Gunnison Sage-grouse | Sagebrush Ecosystem | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service". Sagebrush ecosystem. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 "Gunnison Sage-Grouse". Audubon. 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (2016-10-01). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Gunnison Grouse". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 "Gunnison Sage-Grouse - Centrocercus minimus - Birds of the World". birdsoftheworld.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse". Federal Register. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Doherty, Kevin E.; Hennig, Jacob D.; Dinkins, Jonathan B.; Griffin, Kathleen A.; Cook, Avery A.; Maestas, Jeremy D.; Naugle, David E.; Beck, Jeffrey L. (2018). "Understanding biological effectiveness before scaling up range-wide restoration investments for Gunnison sage-grouse". Ecosphere. 9 (3): e02144. doi:10.1002/ecs2.2144. ISSN 2150-8925.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 John W. Connelly, et al. "Guidelines to Manage Sage Grouse Populations and their Habitats." Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006) 28.4 (2000): 967-85. Web.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 OYLER‐McCANCE, Sara J.; John, Judith St; Taylor, Sonja E.; Apa, Anthony D.; Quinn, Thomas W. (2005). "Population Genetics of Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Implications for Management". The Journal of Wildlife Management. 69 (2): 630–637. doi:10.2193/0022-541X(2005)069[0630:PGOGSI]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1937-2817.
- ↑ Braun, Clait. "Sage Grouse Declines in Western North America: What are the Problems?" Proceedings of the Western Association of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies 78 (1998) Web.
- ↑ Naugle, David, et al. "West Nile Virus: Pending Crisis for Greater Sage-Grouse." Ecology Letters - ECOL LETT 7 (2004) Web.
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