Lesser prairie-chicken densities on tebuthiuron-treated and untreated sand shinnery oak rangelands

Line transect procedures were used to estimate density of lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in tebuthiuron-treated and untreated sand shinnery oak (Quercus havardii Rydb.) rangelands. Forb and grass composition was greater (P less than or equal to 0.014, P < 0.001, respectively) in treated areas than in untreated areas, while shrub composition was greater (P < 0.001) in untreated sites. Densities of lesser prairie-chicken were similar (P less than or equal to 0.298) between treatments. Summer densities were 0.26 birds/ha in treated areas and 0.20 birds/ha in untreated areas, while winter densities were 0.53 and 0.34 birds/ha, respectively. Because shinnery oak provides an important source of shade and food for lesser prairie-chicken, and may be important for cover maintenance by preventing entire areas from being overgrazed in dry years, preservation of some untreated areas is recommended.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202