AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Use of Remote Sensing Methods in Modelling Sage Grouse Winter Habitat

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1993
Authors:Homer, CG, Edwards, Jr., TC, R. Ramsey, D, Price, KP
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:57
Issue:1
Date Published:1993
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Centrocercus, Centrocercus urophasianus, Phasianidae
Abstract:Populations of Rich County, Utah sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have been declining in recent years. Because loss of winter habitat is a suspected factor, we used Landsat Thematic Mapper data to model structural and compositional attributes of sage grouse winter habitat over a 2,548-km2 area in Rich County, 1989-90. Of the 7 shrub and 1 no-shrub classes delineated from the Thematic Mapper, sage grouse preferred 3, avoided 3, and demonstrated no preference for the remaining 2. To determine if the model could be extrapolated to other unsampled areas, we tested model validity with 2 independent data sets from the northern and southern ends of the county. Model fit was excellent (P = 0.984). The successful development of this Geographic Information System model demonstrates the future capability of remote sensing/Geographic Information System applications to model structural and compositional attributes of wildlife habitat over large spatial scales.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3809003
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith