Major Findings

Synopsis

• In 2007, the Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Department of Natural Resources at Texas Tech initiated the first of several research projects on lesser prairie-chickens in sand shinnery oak prairies in Texas.

• In 2010, we partnered with on-going research in New Mexico to facilitate the development of the largest database on lesser prairie-chicken ecology to-date.

• Our combined data sets are the richest for the species, with over 600 individual radio-tagged lesser prairie chickens monitored from 2006-2011.

• We have published numerous theses, dissertations, peer reviewed publications, several book chapters, and co-edited book on lesser prairie-chicken ecology and management.

• Project principal investigators are among the foremost experts on the species in the United States and serve on several scientific advisory boards for management and conservation of the species.

• As of 2014, we currently have 4 active research projects on lesser prairie-chickens and collaborate with universities, non-governmental organizations, state agencies, and the federal government.

• Our research program is among the first to study the species at the 5 state, range-wide level, and the protocols and monitoring techniques developed in our projects are used as the scientific standard for on-going projects across the distribution of the species.

Project Personnel

Theses and Dissertations

Peer Reviewed Publications

Acknowledgements

• Adam Behney, 2009. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, Predation and reproductive behavior of lesser prairie-chickens at leks in the Texas Southern High Plains.

• Nick Pirius, 2011. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, The non-breeding season ecology of lesser prairie-chickens on the Southern High Plains of Texas.

• Blake Grisham, 2012. Doctor of Philosophy, Texas Tech University, The ecology of lesser prairie-chickens in shinnery oak-grassland communities with implications toward habitat management and climate change.

• Jennifer Zavaleta, 2012. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, Community response to use of prescribed grazing and tebuthiuron herbicide for

restoration of sand shinnery oak communities.

• Philip Borsdorf, 2013. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, Lesser prairie-chicken habitat use across varying land-use practices in west Texas and eastern New Mexico.

• Trevor Gicklhorn, In Progress. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, Wildlife use of artificial water sources in west Texas.

• Alixandra Godar, In Progress. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, The influence of climate and landscape change on lesser prairie-chicken population persistence in the sand sagebrush and short grass prairie ecoregions.

• Cody Griffin, In Progress. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, The influence of climate and landscape change on lesser prairie-chicken population persistence in the mixed grass and sand shinnery oak prairie ecoregions.

• Samuel Harryman, FY2015. Master of Science, Texas Tech University, Lesser prairie-chicken ecology in Conservation Reserve Program dominated landscapes in Texas.

Collaborative Lesser Prairie-Chicken Research at Texas Tech University: An Overview

Cody P. Griffin1, Blake A. Grisham1, Clint W. Boal2, David A. Haukos3

1Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79410 2USGS Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79410 3USGS Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506

• Behney, A.C., C.W. Boal, H.A. Whitlaw, and D.R. Lucia. 2010. Prey use by Swainson’s Hawks in the lesser prairie-chicken range of the Southern High Plains. Journal of Raptor Research 44: 317-322.

• Behney, A.C., C.W. Boal, H.A. Whitlaw, and D.R. Lucia. 2011. Interactions of raptors and lesser prairie-chickens at leks in the Texas Southern High Plains. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123:332-338.

• Behney, A.C., C.W. Boal, H.A.Whitlaw, and D.R. Lucia. 2012. Raptor community composition in the Texas Southern High Plains lesser prairie-chicken range. Wildlife Society Bulletin 36:291-296.

• Behney, A.C., B.A. Grisham, C.W. Boal, H.A. Whitlaw, and D.A. Haukos. 2012. Sexual selection and mating chronology of lesser prairie-chickens. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124:96-105.

• Boal, C.W., and Pirius, N.E. 2012. Winter ecology and habitat use of lesser prairie-chickens in west Texas, 2008–11:.U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1073, 9 p. http.//http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1073/ofr2012-1073.pdf.

• Grisham, B.A., C.W. Boal, D.A. Haukos, K.K. Boydston, C. Dixon, and W. Heck. 2013. The potential influence of climate change on lesser prairie-chicken reproductive parameters. PLoS One 8(7):e68225.doi.10.1371/journal.pone.0068225. Awarded Outstanding Scientific Publication of 2013 by the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

• Hagen, C.A., B.A. Grisham, C.W. Boal, and D.A. Haukos. 2013. A meta-analysis of lesser prairie-chicken nesting and brood rearing habitats: Recommendations for habitat management. Wildlife Society Bulletin doi:10.1002/wsb.313.

• Pirius, N.E., C.W. Boal, D.A. Haukos, M.C. Wallace. 2013. Winter habitat use and survival of lesser prairie-chickens in West Texas. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37:759-765. doi: 10.1002/wsb.354.

• Boal, C.W., P.K. Borsdorf, and T.S. Gicklhorn. 2014. Assessment of lesser prairie-chicken use of wildlife water guzzlers. Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society 46:10-18.

• Boal, C.W., B.A. Grisham, D. A. Haukos, J.C. Zavaleta, and C. Dixon. 2014. Lesser prairie-chicken nest site selection, microclimate, and nest survival associated with vegetation responses to a grassland restoration program. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013-1235, 35p.,http://dx.doi.org/10.3133.ofr20131235.

• Grisham, B.A., P.K. Borsdorf, C.W. Boal, and K.K. Boydston. 2014. Nesting ecology of lesser prairie-chickens on the Southern High Plains of Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:857-866.

• Boal, C.W. Predation and lesser prairie-chickens. 2015. In Press in D.A. Haukos and C.W. Boal (eds.). Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press.

• Grisham, B.A., A. J. Godar, C. P. Griffin. 2015. In Press in D.A. Haukos and C.W. Boal (eds.). Potential influences

of climate change on lesser prairie-chicken populations. Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press.

• Grisham, B.A., J.Z. Zavaleta, A.C. Behney, P.K. Borsdorf, D.R. Lucia, D.A. Haukos, and C.W. Boal. 2015. In Press

in D.A. Haukos and C.W. Boal (eds.). Conservation and management of lesser prairie-chickens in sand shinnery oak prairies. Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press

• Haukos, D.A., and J.C. Zavaleta. 2015. Habitat. In Press in D.A. Haukos, and C.W. Boal (eds.). Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press.

• Haukos, D.A., J.C. Pitman, G.M. Beauprez, and D.D Schoeling. 2015. Harvest. In Press in D.A. Haukos, and C.W. Boal (eds.). Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press.

• Haukos, D.A., J.C. Pitman, C.A. Hagen, and A. Flanders. 2015. Management of Sand Sagebrush Prairie for Lesser Prairie-Chickens. In Press in D.A. Haukos, and C.W. Boal (eds.). Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press.

• Haukos, D.A. and C.W. Boal. 2015. Co-Editors in Chief. Conservation and management of lesser prairie-chickens. Studies in Avian Biology, CRC Press.

• Grisham, B.A. and C.W. Boal. Causes and timing of mortality and breeding season survival of lesser prairie-chickens in sand shinnery oak prairies. Wildlife Society Bulletin: In Review.

• Grisham, B.A., C.W. Boal, and D.A. Haukos. Nest microclimate and nest survival data suggest climate change could disrupt life history strategy of threatened grouse species. Global Change Biology. In Review.

• Presley, S.M., K.N. Urban, A.G. Gibson, B.A. Grisham, C.B. Dabbert, and C.W. Boal. Serological survey of lesser

prairie-chicken populations in Texas Southern High Plains for Newcastle disease virus, Pasturella multocida and West Nile Virus. Journal of Wildlife Disease. In Revision.

Figure 2. LEPC’s recognized different predation risk and engage different responses to Northern Harriers (NOHA), hawks (BUTE), and falcons (FALC)

Figure 3. Two to 3 males per individual lek were responsible for >80% of all successful copulation.

Figure 4. Breeding and non breeding survival was among the highest reported for the species across its distribution.

Figure 5. Brood survival from hatch to 14-days post hatch is limiting demographic parameter for species in shinnery oak prairies

Figure 13. The Conservation Reserve Program may be a beneficial management tool for landowners in Texas.

Figure 7. We lack the empirical evidence to reject free water use as viable management strategy for the species.

Figure 11. Drought negatively influences nesting hens through reduction of vegetation that fails to protect from the elements and nest predators.

Figure 8. Lesser prairie-chickens regularly visited gallinaceous guzzlers, especially during drought conditions.

Figure 9. Habitat improvements focused on reduction of shinnery oak has high ecological value for the species.

Figure 12. Sand shinnery oak prairies are environmentally isolated and climate change is likely to have a strong impact on the species in this ecoregion.

Figure 6. Nesting hens nested closer to stock tanks than what would be expected at random.

Figure 10. Land management practices such as herbicide application and managed grazing positively influence the species.

• Private Landowners

• Grasslans Charitable Foundation

• Wildlife Plus Consulting

• Numerous Field Technicians

Figure 1. Top, Left to Right: A. Behney, N. Pirius, J. Zavaleta; Second, Left to Right: P. Borsdorf, T. Gicklhorn, A. Godar; Third, Left to Right: C. Griffin, S. Harryman, C. Boal; Bottom, Left to Right: B. Grisham, D. Haukos, Lesser Prairie-Chickens