Use of geographic information systems to model potential columbian sharp tailed grouse nesting brood rearing habitat


Category:  Geography
Linked Publication
Language: English
Author(s): Eric F. Edgley
Description: As more and more digital GIS data become available from government agencies and private sector entities, natural resource managers are better able to analyze and visualize the resources they are managing. To show how this can be accomplished, I analyzed 19 areas of known Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) nesting/ brood rearing habitat using existing data sources. The land cover data that were analyzed were a modified Idaho Gap land cover layer. Included in the land cover layer are various vegetation and land use classes including the NRCS's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands. A 2000 meter buffer around each lek was the basis of the analysis. I compared these areas against 19 random areas using a split plot completely randomized design (CRD) analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical procedure to determine if nesting/brood rearing habitat areas have a significantly different composition of land cover classes than random areas. Once significance was concluded, an LSD (least significant difference) test was used to determine which classes were significantly more present within buffered lek areas than in random areas. Results showed that CRP areas were markedly most significant. Other land cover classes of significance included irrigated, nonirrigated, and fallow agricultural areas. These results were then used with other ancillary data in a model to show probable areas of potential habitat throughout the study area. These results support conclusions by others that CRP lands have greatly influenced populations of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse in the region.