The long-term effect of fire on sage grouse nesting and brood-rearing habitats on the Upper Snake River Plain

198 Pages·1998·18.2 MB·English

by  Nelle, Pamela J

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THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF FIRE ON SAGE GROUSE NESTING AND BROOD-
REARING HABITATS ON THE UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN
A Thesis
Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Master of Science
with a
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Major in Wildlife Resources
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By
PAMELA J. NELLE
December 1998 -
Major Professor: Kerry P. Reese, Ph.D.
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) 91S This thesis of Pamela J. Nelle, submitted for the degree of Master of Science with a
major in Wildlife Resources and titled “The long-term effects of fire on sage grouse nesting
and brood-rearing habitats on the Upper Snake River Plain”, has been reviewed in final form,
as indicated by the signatures and dates given below. Permission is now granted to submit
final copies to the College of Graduate Studies for approval.
Major Professor aul Date /2- 7.7
P. Reese
Committee Members Date VF2 7-99
ae: R/’Gerald Wri |
er Shee. Date /2 /¢/¢8
ephen C. Bunting
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College Dean — At.n e te Date PEL §5
Alton G. Campbell
College of Graduate Studies Final Approval and Acceptance:
Date / a 21 (FE
Jean’ne M. Shreeve

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MANUSCRIPT THESIS
The literary rights in any unpublished thesis submitted for the
Master's degree and deposited in the University of Idaho
Library are vested in the Regents of the University. This thesis
is open for inspection, but it is to be used only with due regard
for the literary rights involved.

ABSTRACT
This study is the first to examine the long-term impact of wildfire and prescribed fire
on sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nesting and brood-rearing habitat. The study
took place on the Upper Snake River Plain in southeastern Idaho, in Clark and Fremont
counties, from May to August in 1996 and 1997. The area is mostly sagebrush-grassland,
with mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) being the most common
subspecies of sagebrush. A total of 20 different-aged burns were sampled, ranging from
wildfires which burned in the 1960’s to prescribed fires set in 1996. Canopy coverage of
burned and unburned vegetation was sampled using the line intercept method and 2 * 5 dm
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quadrats, pitfall traps were used to determine invertebrate abundance, and plots were
searched for sign of use by sage grouse.
No long-term benefit was detected as a result of burning sage grouse nesting and /
brood-rearing habitat. Burning had long-term negative impacts on nesting Rabat veers
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after burning sagebrush had not returned to preburn conditions. Mean sagebrush cover was
8% in 6-14 year old burns, compared to 18% in unburned vegetation, and mean sagebrush SNnSOeieenne Oa
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shrub height was 49cm in 6-14 year old burns compared to 71cm tall in unburned vegetation.
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No difference was detected in forb abundance between different-aged burns. A short-lived
response was found in invertebrate abundance. The abundance of ants and beetles was
significantly greater in the 1-year old burn category, but had returned to unburned levels by
3-5 years postburn. S8=a aas
Burning has long-term negative impacts on sage grouse nesting habitat on the Upper
Snake River Plain and burning to improve brood-rearing habitat results in short-term
benefits, if any. With respect to sage grouse habitat requirements burns should be small and

their location determined in relation tothe age and structure of the vegetation in the
| » surrounding area and the quality of nesting and brood-rearing habitat already offered by the
unburned vegetation.
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