Habitat selection and use by sympatric, translocated greater sage‐grouse and Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse

摘要: Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) have declined substantially in Washington, USA, primarily because native shrub-steppe has been converted to agriculture. In response, state federal agencies acquired restored habitat, augmented reintroduced suitable areas. We examined how sympatric, translocated used space selected habitats within their spring–summer home ranges at nest sites remnant surrounded by a matrix of cropland eastern Washington. Because life-history requirements differ, we expected extensive habitat partitioning between species. Using radiolocations ≥43 birds each species, found that had larger than grouse, the composite for fell almost completely sage-grouse. By creating resource utilization function models using ≥53 areas highest predicted intensity use both species overlapped >50%, even top 5% quantile. Both fields farther from trees roads or distribution lines more intensely. Sage-grouse less rugged intensely, 3 levels shrub cover equally. To compare selection relative available nesting created ≥30 lines, whereas fields. When vegetation characteristics female case-control, versus non-use design ≥26 with greater cover, lower annual forb taller perennial grasses, grass grasses forbs. compared features measured moderate dense sparse fields, higher patch diversity, grouse. These differences resulted only 38% overlap quartile values 2 <10% many western states are highly fragmented cropland, understanding populations different characteristics, such as coexist remaining tracts spatial scales is important effectively conserving managing communities. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.