Thesis Research
Landscape Features Associated
with Greater Prairie-chicken Leks in Kansas
Abstract
I conducted a landscape
level investigation of the associations of topography, land cover, and
landscape metrics with greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)
leks in Kansas. I used Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks greater
prairie-chicken lek survey routes with 1:24000 Digital Elevation Model
(DEM) grids to examine the associations of topography with lek versus random
locations and traditional versus temporary leks. I used discriminant
function to develop an overall model of all routes combined and for 5 physiographic
provinces. For lek versus random locations elevation was found to
be a common predictor in all of the models (P < 0.001). For traditional
versus temporary leks, topography was a worse predictor (P < 0.05) than
for lek versus random locations.
I also used discriminant
function to model lek versus random locations and traditional versus temporary
leks using land cover maps created from satellite imagery. I developed
models for all leks combined and for 4 physiographic provinces within a
1.6 km and 4.0 km buffer. For lek versus random locations in the
1.6 km buffer, grassland area was found to be a predictor (P < 0.001)
common to all models. For traditional versus temporary leks forest
area was found to be the predictor for 3 models (P < 0.01).
The 1.6 km models were found to be better predictors than were the 4.0
km models. Land cover area alone was found to be a better predictor than
landscape metrics. However, landscape metrics still were relatively
good predictors.
I also
developed a combined model for the 1.6 km buffer land cover, landscape
metrics, topography, and 4.0 km buffer, land cover and topography.
These models showed only slight improvement in accuracy over the general
land cover models. I found that greater prairie-chickens in Kansas
were associated with larger blocks of grassland than has previously been
reported. Grassland patch size in Kansas ranged from ~150 ha to ~
450 ha.