Habitat Use and Growth and Development of Juvenile Lesser Prairie Chickens in Southeast New Mexico
Abstract
Based on data from 257 brood locations and 53 random locations, lesser prairie-chicken broods selected locations on sand shinnery oak dominance with taller plant heights and more over head cover when temperatures exceeded 26.4 ?C than what was available at random. Temperatures did not differ between random sites in presence or absence of herbicide applications. Habitat selection was more dependent on the structural attributes contained within areas not treated with herbicide and these sites were often selected at a fine spatial scale. Habitat management that seeks to conserve native shrublands may increase the abundance or help to sustain populations of lesser prairie-chickens in semi-arid environments. In addition, growth rates for juvenile lesser prairie-chickens did not differ between New Mexico and Kansas.
Collections
- OSU Theses [15752]