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We provide scientific reports, project profiles, technical tools, videos, photos, field guides, and links that tell the story of how cooperative conservation is making a difference for working lands and wildlife across the West.
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New Science Backs WLFW’s Biome-Wide Conservation Approach
November 6, 2023
Research shows that WLFW's updated approach to conserving intact working landscapes produces better conservation results than focusing on a single ...
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New “Pocket Guide” Provides Unified Planning Process for Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands
July 18, 2023
New pocket guide details conservation planning guidelines for reducing woody encroachment in ...
Publication Alert
New science incorporates genetics and connectivity into sage grouse conservation
March 8, 2023
New research adds connectivity to sage grouse conservation strategies, opening new opportunities for conserving travel pathways that facilitate gene flow among sage grouse ...
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Getting Ahead of Large Rangeland Fires in the Great Basin
September 20, 2022
Join Joe Smith and Jeremy Maestas for a discussion about new, annual fire-prediction maps for the Great Basin and what they mean for managing for wildfire in ...
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Publication Alert: Large-scale fire management restores grassland bird richness
January 18, 2022
Research from the Loess Canyons Experimental Landscape shows that strategic use of prescribed fire boosts grassland species ...
Publication Alert
Publication Alert: Annual Invasive Grasses Spreading Through Great Basin to Higher Elevations and Northern Aspects
November 23, 2021
Working Lands for Wildlife research is showing that annual invasive grasses are moving up in elevation and to more northern aspects throughout the Great ...
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Publication: Habitat Preferred by Sage Grouse Increases Six-Fold Following Tree Removal
October 20, 2021
A long-term study from Oregon shows strategic tree removal boots sage grouse use of habitat as compared to areas where no trees were ...
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A Decade of Science Support in the Sagebrush Biome
September 30, 2021
A new report summarizes - in one place - more than a decade of WLFW science support that NRCS staff and partners can incorporate into their future ...
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The Science Behind WLFW’s Riparian and Wet Meadow Restoration
August 26, 2021
Working Lands for Wildlife researchers and scientists have spent years researching how sage grouse use the West's mesic habitats, how best to restore those habitats, and ...
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Ask an Expert | The Science Behind Private Lands Conservation: A Conversation with Dr. David Naugle, Working Lands for Wildlife Science Advisor
January 21, 2020
Learn more about WLFW's approach to science, how the coproduction of science benefits private-lands conservation and what's next for the Western WLFW science ...
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Quantifying Outcomes Improves Conservation Effectiveness
October 8, 2019
Since 2012, Working Lands for Wildlife has partnered with the Conservation Effects Assessment Project to co-produce 37 peer-reviewed studies that measure conservation ...
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Cutting to the Chase: Long-Term Success of Conifer Removal Depends on Both Cutting and Burning
September 10, 2019
Ask an Expert | How to use cutting and burning to most effectively restore sagebrush ecosystems experiencing conifer ...
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Sage Grouse Populations Grow When Conifers are Removed
May 14, 2019
Ask an Expert - Andrew Olsen explains his research that shows sage grouse populations rise 12% following sustained and targeted conifer ...
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Watch Working Lands For Wildlife Presentations from 2019 Society for Range Management Conference
March 19, 2019
Working Lands for Wildlife video presentations from the 2019 Society for Range Management Conference featuring new technologies that can help improve rangeland management in ...
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Conserving Diverse Wet Habitats Keeps Western Rangelands Resilient
February 13, 2019
New research highlights the importance of mesic resources for sage grouse and other wildlife ...
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How Can Emerging Technology Help Conserve Rangeland?
December 5, 2018
Research scientist Dr. Matthew Jones explains how cloud computing and machine learning are changing the way we visualize and manage ...
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Grazed Rangelands Produce Sage Grouse Chicks’ Preferred Food
November 26, 2018
New research shows that grazing lands grow more bugs for birds to ...
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Low-Tech Riparian And Meadow Restoration Keeps Rangelands Greener Longer
October 8, 2018
New research shows low-tech restoration methods increased vegetation productivity by 25% and kept plants greener longer, resulting in greater ...
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NEW SCIENCE | Middle Ground Found On The Range
September 27, 2018
New research shows grazing access to public lands in the western U.S. can be good for ranching and ...
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Lessons & Photos from SGI’s 8th Annual Workshop: Combating Wildfire & Weeds
June 18, 2018
The 2018 SGI field tour and presentations focused on cooperative, science-based conservation that's working to thwart fire and invasives in sagebrush ...
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NEW SCIENCE: Visualizing Sage Grouse Habitat As “Hubs & Spokes”
May 17, 2018
New research helps prioritize sage grouse conservation by ranking the importance of leks to the species' overall genetic connectivity across the range, likening certain areas ...
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Harnessing Technology Improves Conservation Effectiveness
March 20, 2018
Innovative Web App increases conservation effectiveness on working lands in the American West by matching the right practices to the right places using emerging science and ...
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30 Videos Now Available on Science & Management in Sagebrush Country
February 15, 2018
View free, on-demand replays on YouTube of educational presentations about the science and management of sagebrush ...
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New Online Tool Shows Songbird Abundance Across Sagebrush Country
January 16, 2018
Check out the latest map additions to the SGI Web App, which allow users to easily visualize songbird distribution, bolstering multi-species conservation across the American ...
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FAIR CHASE Magazine | The Value of Sagebrush Country
December 8, 2017
by Josh Millspaugh | This feature in the December 2017 issue of Fair Chase Magazine highlights how sage grouse conservation benefits hunters and a host of wildlife ...
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Taking the Bias Out of Sage Grouse Nesting Studies
November 27, 2017
This new Science to Solutions shows that grass height may not be as crucial to nesting success as previously thought, since hatched nests are measured later than failed ...
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New Science: When Trees Are Cut, Grasses & Shrubs Return
November 14, 2017
Research shows that conifers decrease the native sagebrush grasses and shrubs that wildlife and livestock rely on, and confirms that forage comes back when trees are ...
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Journal Of Wildlife Management Study: Grazing Shows Little Effect On Grouse Nesting
October 31, 2017
by David Frey, for The Wildlife Society | A study in Montana found livestock grazing management doesn’t have as strong a link with sage grouse nest success as previously ...
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BEEF Magazine | Rest-Rotation Grazing Helps Sage Grouse Survival
October 16, 2017
Pastures that use Sage Grouse Initiative rest-rotation grazing programs produce plentiful bugs, which is a good deal for cattle and sage grouse ...
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Webinar: Estimating The Economic Impact Of Sage Grouse Conservation On Ranches
September 15, 2017
When: Friday, September 29, 2017 | 10:00 AM MST Host: University of Wyoming Watch the On-Demand Replay ...
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New Framework Helps Plan Next Generation Of Sagebrush Restoration
August 2, 2017
Innovative new research on conifer removal spans the life cycle of sage grouse, helping managers increase the efficiency of future work to restore sagebrush ...
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Latest Science Reveals Most Effective Conifer Removal Treatments
July 13, 2017
New research on conifer cutting and prescribed burning helps resource managers and landowners plan sagebrush conservation projects that deliver the best results for the bird ...
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How Do We Find (And Protect) Precious Wet Places In The West?
May 10, 2017
Mesic areas comprise only 1-2% of the western landscape, but 80% of animals depend on them -- including sage grouse and livestock. Learn why they're important and how to ...
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New Science: Sage Grouse Population Increases When Western Juniper Pushed Back
April 27, 2017
A new study funded in part by the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative found that survival rates of both female sage grouse and their nests increased where encroaching juniper ...
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New USFWS Collaboration Expands Science Tools To Sage-Steppe
April 10, 2017
Thanks to partners like the USFWS, the outlook is brighter for maintaining intact, healthy sagebrush habitat for 350+ species and the hundreds of communities that depend on ...
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Sage Grouse Need Intact Landscapes For Long-Distance Movement
March 28, 2017
New science shows that keeping big landscapes healthy and connected is essential for maintaining bigger-than-expected sage grouse ...
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Now Available! Online Replay Of Scientific Presentations On Woodland Expansion
February 21, 2017
Watch free 20-minute presentations featuring the latest science on how removing invading conifers boosts water availability, forage production, and grouse ...
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Brave Sage Grouse Strike Out Solo Over Long Distances
February 9, 2017
New research shows that a few individual greater sage-grouse travel more widely travel than anyone suspected, which makes the overall population ...
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Conifer Removal Boosts Sage Grouse Success
January 26, 2017
New research shows that 86% of hens avoided nesting in sagebrush habitat invaded by conifers. Luckily, the studies also show that removing conifers in otherwise high-quality ...
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Rangeland Science Journal Publishes Special Issue On Reducing Woodland Expansion
January 10, 2017
The latest research -- published in this month's special issue of SRM's Rangeland Ecology & Management science journal -- shows the benefits of removing conifers for grouse, ...
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A New Approach For Turning Science Into Action
December 13, 2016
Learn more about the "coproduction of actionable science." At the Sage Grouse Initiative, it means a lot of phone calls, coffee chats, field tours, and honest conversations ...
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New Research Finds That Sage Grouse Prefer Nesting In Conifer-Free Landscapes
November 10, 2016
Scientists tracked sage grouse nest success in southern Oregon, and found that hens avoided sites where conifer cover exceeded 3% within 800m of their ...
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Tag, you’re it! How do researchers track sage grouse chicks?
November 7, 2016
Meet expert Mark Szczypinski with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. He tells us all about how to track sage grouse hens and their ...
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Realizing “The True Potential” For Working Lands And Wildlife In Sagebrush Country
November 2, 2016
The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative continues to build field capacity, expand our science team, and strengthen partnerships across the sagebrush landscape. Read our latest ...
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Sagebrush Songbirds Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella
October 25, 2016
New songbird maps provide tools to help expand the benefits of sage grouse conservation to more wildlife species in the sagebrush community. Learn more from our latest Science ...
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New Research Provides Insights into Sage Grouse DNA
October 3, 2016
by Jennifer Hayes and Brianna Randall | New SGI research finds five genetic subpopulations of sage grouse in Montana and the Dakotas, which are synonymous with the existing ...
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What’s The Difference Between Gunnison And Greater Sage-Grouse?
September 28, 2016
Did you know that Gunnison sage-grouse have longer ponytails than greater sage-grouse? Learn more about the differences between the two species from expert Marcella Fremgen, a ...
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Report: Fence Markers Work To Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions
August 30, 2016
A new report released by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies -- and funded by an NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant -- is the first study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of ...
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New Web-Based Tool Helps Save Sage Grouse From Fence Collisions
July 14, 2016
SGI's interactive web app now features a map layer that helps land managers prioritize where to mark high-risk fences to protect birds. This user-friendly tool allows ranchers ...
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Scientific Research Shows How To Reduce The Risk Of Crop Cultivation To Protect Sage Grouse
July 7, 2016
A new scientific study published in Biological Conservation explains how to reduce the threat of converting native sagebrush habitat into crops. Read how the research can be ...
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Getting Our Hands Dirty at the 6th Annual Sage Grouse Initiative Workshop Tour
July 6, 2016
Last week, range managers, ecologists, and wildlife biologists gathered in Montana to learn from landowners what works for the bird and the herd. Check out the photo story ...
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Map Layer Identifies Risk of Converting Sagebrush to Cropland
April 13, 2016
Today, the Sage Grouse Initiative is unveiling a new layer on our interactive web application that shows where the risk of cropland conversion is highest. The new "cultivation ...
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New Science: Conifer Removal Restores Habitat for Lesser Prairie Chickens
April 4, 2016
Conifer encroachment spells bad news for birds that need intact, wide open spaces--sage grouse and lesser prairie-chickens included. This new report released by our partner, ...
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CSU Researcher’s Work Boosts Sage Grouse Conservation Project
March 9, 2016
by Mary Guiden | “The new web app and map make sure people on the ground have the best science," says Dave Naugle, SGI Science ...
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New Research + Movie: Wet Habitats On Private Lands Critical For Sage Grouse
March 7, 2016
A new study and a complementary video of two hens' summer movements show that wet islands of green in the sagebrush sea provide vital foraging habitat for growing sage grouse ...
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The Progressive Rancher | Science and Tech Bolster USDA, Partners’ Conservation Work in Western States
March 3, 2016
by Heather Emmons | The Progressive Rancher published the following story about the Sage Grouse Initiative's new interactive web application in its March 2016 issue. Read on ...
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SGI Unveils Interactive Web Application To Bolster Wildlife Conservation Work
February 23, 2016
Today, the Sage Grouse Initiative is unveiling a new tool to catalyze and improve habitat conservation efforts across the western United States. The free SGI Interactive Web ...
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Seeding Big Sagebrush Successfully on Intermountain Rangelands
November 14, 2015
By Susan E. Meyer and Thomas W. Warren | This fact sheet provides land managers with state-of-the-art information on establishing big sagebrush through direct seeding, ...
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The Sage-Grouse’s Next Dance | What the Recent Decision Means for the Bird and Conservation
October 6, 2015
By Holly Copeland. “So what is your take on the sage-grouse ruling?” This beautiful dancing bird has been in my thoughts almost daily for the past nine years, as it has ...
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Sagebrush Songbirds Benefit from Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration
September 9, 2015
New research released as part of the Sage Grouse Initiative's Science to Solutions series shows that restoring sagebrush ecosystems not only benefits ranching and sage grouse ...
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Sage Grouse Conservation Leaders Recognized in California & Nevada
September 1, 2015
This month, SGI and SWAT staff gathered together on the California-Nevada border to share notes, and learn from the unprecedented conservation efforts centered around the ...
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New Report | Sage Grouse Populations On the Rise
August 18, 2015
According to a new report by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the population of the greater sage-grouse has grown by nearly two-thirds since 2013 across ...
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New Research Shows Grazing Plans Are Good for Grouse and for Bugs
August 17, 2015
Learn how Montana State University entomologist Hayes Goosey is studying "a mini-metropolis of arthropods" on five ranches in eastern Montana where the Sage Grouse Initiative ...
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Dedicated Field Staff Make a Difference for Sage Grouse West-wide
August 5, 2015
SGI's Strategic Watershed Action Team’s dedicated and enthusiastic range conservationists, wildlife biologists, and natural resource specialists put in place plenty of ...
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Reducing Cultivation of Grazing Lands Conserves Sage Grouse
July 13, 2015
In the northeast part of sage grouse range, 70% of the best habitat is privately owned-–and the single greatest threat in this region is cultivation of native sagebrush ...
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New Science to Solutions Report: High-Resolution Maps Sharpen Focus On Sage Grouse Habitat
April 13, 2015
This new Science to Solutions report explains how a new technique called Earth Sense Technology (EST) is a cost-effective way to assesses range conditions throughout the West, ...
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High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus on Sage Grouse Habitat
April 7, 2015
Science to Solutions: High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus On Sage Grouse Habitat A new technique called Earth Sense Technology (EST) is ...
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Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer
March 15, 2015
This report shows how habitat conservation for sage grouse, considered an umbrella species, can also protect critical habitat for mule deer. Scientists found that sage grouse ...
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Study Shows That Fence Markers Reduce Sage Grouse Mortality in Wyoming
February 27, 2015
SGI and our partners have marked or moved 590 miles of high-risk fence to reduce bird collisions so that sage grouse can thrive in the sagebrush sea. Read on to see results of ...
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Marking High-Risk Fences Saves Sage Grouse
December 19, 2014
Marking fences for visibility can dramatically reduce sage grouse collisions. A new mapping tool can help managers and landowners target those fences that pose the highest ...
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Wildfire and Cheatgrass: New Science Helps Reduce Threats to Sage Grouse
November 22, 2014
Wildfires and the invasion of exotic annual grasses like cheatgrass can transform large expanses of sagebrush habitat, which is bad for sage grouse. This new strategy serves ...
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Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat
October 30, 2014
An impressive 85% of leks (sage grouse breeding areas) cluster within six miles of wet summer habitats. Successful sage grouse conservation will hinge on cooperative ...
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Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat
September 16, 2014
New sage grouse study reveals a strong link between wet sites (essential summer habitat for sage grouse to raise their broods) and sage grouse leks, and in turn, private ...
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Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
June 19, 2014
This recent study by The Nature Conservancy, University of Wyoming and the Sage Grouse Initiative finds that Wyoming’s strategy, combined with targeted conservation ...
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Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
June 16, 2014
Read the Press Release here. Download the PDF of the Science to Solutions report “Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse ...
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Conifer Removal Restores Sage Grouse Habitat
April 23, 2014
Hundreds of thousands of acres of intact sagebrush lands--and the grouse that depend upon them--are threatened by invading conifers. SGI helps remove the threat to prevent ...
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Science to Solution Series: Marking High-Risk Fences Saves Sage Grouse
March 20, 2014
The Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) regularly joins with its partners to fund and support science that is designed to help guide conservation solutions on the ground. Today, we ...
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Technical Fact Sheet: Mapping Potential Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance for Sage Grouse
January 29, 2014
Science Technical Fact Sheet: Mapping Potential Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance across Sage-Grouse Range using Soil Temperature and Moisture Regimes A recent ...