Geology topics

Daniel Shelby Sullins

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Shelby Sullins.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

Bird breeding success in restored grasslands compared to croplands and natural grasslands: A meta-analysis

Reproductive success is central to long-term population persistence, yet it is rarely assessed in ecosystem restoration. We performed a multilevel meta-analysis to assess whether bird breeding success increases from croplands to restored grasslands or from restored grasslands to natural grasslands. We quantified five comparisons of two breeding success variables between croplands and restored grasslands in three species, and 228 comparisons of nine variables between natural and restored grasslands in 22 species using 14 datasets from North America and Europe. For the few grassland birds that nest in croplands, clutch size was higher in restored fields than in croplands. Most importantly, breeding success did not differ between restored and natural grasslands in nine species and for all species combined. In 13 species, breeding success differed between restored and natural grasslands, and it was often higher in restored grasslands during early breeding stages, but higher in natural grasslands during later stages. Eight species did better in restored grasslands (Clay-colored Sparrow, Dickcissel, Eastern Meadowlark, Lesser Prairie-chicken, Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Sprague's Pipit, Western Meadowlark), whereas four species did better in natural grasslands (Baird's Sparrow, Common Nighthawk, Lark Bunting, Savannah Sparrow). Our results suggest that bird breeding success can be as high in restored grasslands as in natural ones, and certainly higher than in croplands. While restored grasslands differ widely by geography, climate, method and management, our results offer hope for ecosystem restoration. However, the differences found also imply that species requirements should be considered in grassland ecosystem restoration and management.

Biological Conservation↗

USGS2026

Landscape composition and proximity to water affect American badger occupancy in shortgrass prairies

Land use change in prairie ecosystems is pervasive. Prairie obligate species may be affected by these changes, though many carnivore-specific examples are unknown. We used 3 years (2018–2020) of camera-trap ( n = 381) data from Kansas, USA, to assess multiscale effects of landscape composition on habitat use by American badgers (badger, Taxidea taxus ). We predicted that site occupancy and colonization would be positively associated with the amount of prairie surrounding sites. We also predicted that site occupancy and colonization would be negatively related to amounts of agriculture and the number of wind towers surrounding sites. Badgers were insensitive to amounts of prairie surrounding sites and likely to occupy and colonize sites surrounded by row-crop agriculture. Badgers were also less likely to occupy sites farther from permanent water. Badgers may be exploiting agricultural areas because of increased prey densities or suitable burrowing substrates. Moreover, our study highlights the importance of water resources to badgers in arid regions.

Kansas↗

USGS2026

Contemporary greater prairie-chicken habitat distribution change and landscape thresholds in Kansas

Grassland bird monitoring efforts continue to document population declines in the Great Plains, USA and there is limited understanding of how declines are associated with landscape changes over broad scales. Within Kansas, USA, surveys indicate the resident grassland obligate greater prairie-chicken ( Tympanuchus cupido ) declined during the past 30 years. Grassland loss has been cited as the main driver of the decline; however, other factors including pesticide application, woody encroachment, and anthropogenic vertical structures are likely attributable. To evaluate, we used a random forest modeling approach to compare grassland cover, woody cover, and pesticide use between occupied ( n = 5552) and “pseudoabsent” ( n = 11,223) greater prairie-chicken lek site locations from 1993 to 2020. Our best-supported variables were grassland within 5 km, woody cover within 800 m, and pesticide application within 5 km of lek locations. The model correctly predicted the use or absence of leks with 89.95% accuracy based on independent validation. Our analysis suggests that grasslands have become aggregated within a 5 km radius where woody encroachment is less pronounced in the Smoky Hills and Northern High Plains management units and therefore landscapes have become more favorable for greater prairie-chickens at this scale. In contrast, the Flint Hills management unit netted a 13% loss of greater prairie-chicken habitat coinciding with woody encroachment and increased pesticide use. For 2020, we predicted a further loss of functional habitat from the presence of wind turbines, power transmission lines, and oil and gas infrastructure using previous literature documenting scales of avoidance. Our results support hypotheses that grassland loss, woody encroachment, and pesticide use all present negative population consequences for greater prairie-chickens. Current trends may be altered with grassland conservation action that seeks to conserve grasslands with < 10% woody cover and minimal pesticide use.

Kansas↗