Demonstrating and Quantifying the Influences of Incentive Based Rest Rotation Grazing on Food Insects of Sage-Grouse, Rangeland Pollinators, and Vectors of West Nile Virus

Greater sage-grouse populations have been in decline in the western U.S. since the 1950s. Many factors have been highlighted as explanations of sage-grouse declines with chick and brood survival being directly linked to annual recruitment; however, the specifics of these vital rates are a poorly understood component of sage-grouse ecology. Much research has been conducted on the selection criteria used by female sage-grouse when choosing a brood site and the results have provided a foundation for land management considerations aimed at improving sage-grouse Habitat and ultimately recruitment of chicks. However, the criteria that female sage-grouse use for Habitat selection may not provide insight into the relationship between the site resources and chick and brood survival. The mechanisms which influence daily chick and brood survival need to be better understood and these data should be used to establish a prerequisite program which implements Habitat management strategies that affect annual recruitment and, ultimately, sage-grouse conservation. One thing which is known to positively drive chick and brood survival is the abundance of arthropods (insets, spiders, etc.) near brooding locations. Another component of chick and brood survival is the distribution of West Nile virus, a deadly infection transmitted to sage-grouse by mosquitos. Populations of pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, etc.) have also been in decline in recent years. On rangelands, pollinators are a key component and provide essential services to the plant communities on which sage-grouse and their food arthropods depend. The project team’s ongoing research shows that both food arthropods and pollinators benefit from the same land management practices. Specifically, the Sage-Grouse Initiative rest rotation cattle grazing program not only increases the abundance of food arthropods but that it also increases the abundance of pollinators in years with near normal precipitation. Other current research indicates that sage-grouse nest success is also higher in pastures enrolled in the Sage-Grouse Initiative. Ultimately, the some linkages are becoming clear in that sage-grouse, food arthropods and pollinators are dependent on similar Habitat qualities. This project will further evaluate and demonstrate the benefits of rest rotation cattle grazing by developing metrics which land managers can use to assess food arthropod and pollinator Habitat quality based on the vegetation diversity and structure. The distributions of vectors of West Nile virus based on the rest rotation grazing program will also be evaluated. These factors will be incorporated into land management practices which will also help keep ranches profitable and native landscapes, on which rangeland species depend, intact for future generations.