Avian species richness and abundance show stronger responses to bison grazing intensity than to ecosystem productivity

Abstract Temperate grassland ecosystems are one of the most threatened worldwide, and their loss endangers songbirds that rely upon them. This guild birds has shown long‐term declines in North America. At same time, American bison ( Bison ) becoming more common through reintroductions, they may make significant modifications to songbird habitat. To support conservation for this guild, we sought understand importance grazing ecosystem productivity species richness, occupancy, abundance avian community. We conducted dependent double‐observer bird counts, measured intensity with patty used remote‐sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data measure productivity. Our work took place National Range near Moiese, Montana Yellowstone Park Wyoming. found richness was positively correlated counts had a weak negative correlation NDVI. Occupancy probability six seven negatively Abundance vesper sparrow Pooecetes graminueus western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta were although meadowlark, trend became less positive increasing counts. suggests managers want encourage broad range intensities ensure vegetative conditions related present all species.