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#           Postfire growth of seeded and planted big sagebrush - Strategic designs for restoring Greater Sage-grouse nesting habitat      

      August 9, 2020    

Wildfires change plant community structure and impact wildlife habitat and population dynamics. Recent wildfire‐induced losses of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in North American shrublands are outpacing natural recovery and leading to substantial losses in habitat for sagebrush‐obligate species such as Greater Sage‐grouse. Managers are considering restoration strategies that include planting container‐grown sagebrush to improve establishment within areas using more conventional seeding methods. Although it is thought that planting sagebrush provides initial structural advantages over seeding, empirical comparisons of sagebrush growth are lacking between individuals established post‐fire using both methods. Using a Bayesian hierarchical approach, we evaluated sagebrush height and canopy area growth rates for plants established in 26 seeded and 20 planted locations within the Great Basin. We then related recovery rates to previously published nesting habitat requirements for sage‐grouse. Under average weather conditions, planted or seeded sagebrush will require 3 or 4 years, respectively, and a relatively high density (≥ 2 plants/m2) to achieve the minimum recommended canopy cover for sage‐grouse (15 %). Sagebrush grown in warmer and drier conditions met this cover goal months earlier. Although planted sagebrush reached heights to meet sage‐grouse nesting requirements (30 cm) one year earlier than seeded plants, seeded individuals were ~19 cm taller with 410 cm2 more canopy area than planted sagebrush after 8 years. However, big sagebrush establishment from seed is unreliable. Strategically planting small, high density patches of container‐grown sagebrush in historic sage‐grouse nesting habitat combined with lower density seedings in larger surrounding areas may accelerate sage‐grouse habitat restoration.

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#### David A Pyke

##### Scientist Emeritus

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

david_a_pyke@usgs.gov

541-750-0989

#### Robert S Arkle

##### Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

rarkle@usgs.gov

208-426-5205

#### David S Pilliod

##### Supervisory Research Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

dpilliod@usgs.gov

208-387-1363

#### Cameron L Aldridge, PhD

##### Branch Chief / Supervisory Research Ecologist

Fort Collins Science Center

aldridgec@usgs.gov

970-226-9433

#### Peter Coates, PhD

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

pcoates@usgs.gov

530-669-5073

#### Matthew J Germino

##### Supervisory Research Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

mgermino@usgs.gov

208-221-4638

#### Mark A Ricca

##### Research Manager

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

mark_ricca@usgs.gov

541-750-1038

#### Scott E Shaff

##### Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

sshaff@usgs.gov

541-750-0942

## Related Content

#### David A Pyke

##### Scientist Emeritus

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

david_a_pyke@usgs.gov

541-750-0989

#### Robert S Arkle

##### Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

rarkle@usgs.gov

208-426-5205

#### David S Pilliod

##### Supervisory Research Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

dpilliod@usgs.gov

208-387-1363

#### Cameron L Aldridge, PhD

##### Branch Chief / Supervisory Research Ecologist

Fort Collins Science Center

aldridgec@usgs.gov

970-226-9433

#### Peter Coates, PhD

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

pcoates@usgs.gov

530-669-5073

#### Matthew J Germino

##### Supervisory Research Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

mgermino@usgs.gov

208-221-4638

#### Mark A Ricca

##### Research Manager

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

mark_ricca@usgs.gov

541-750-1038

#### Scott E Shaff

##### Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

sshaff@usgs.gov

541-750-0942

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(916) 278-9475

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