Vegetation characteristics and precipitation jointly influence grassland bird abundance beyond the effects of grazing management

Abstract Grassland birds have experienced some of the steepest population declines any guild in North America. The shortgrass steppe contains America’s most intact grasslands, which makes region particularly important for these species. It is well known that grassland differentially respond to variation vegetation structure generated by spatiotemporally varying disturbance like grazing management. However, understanding how species characteristics beyond or could better inform management steppe. We analyzed point count data 5 bird breeding on Central Plains Experimental Range northeastern Colorado from 2013 2017 examine predictive capacity models representing fine-scale (~5 ha) attributes (vegetation and cover type) topography, combined with interannual precipitation variability (i.e. vegetation-abiotic models). then compared based treatments (applied whole pastures, ~130 edaphic conditions (ecological sites), represented information more generally available rangeland managers. Precipitation, structure, type influenced all a manner consistent with, but nuanced than, alone. These also explained abundance responded Thus, while can be applied adaptively improve habitat species, our detailed identified species-specific components targeted For example, not pastures extensive, homogenous stands mid-height grasses (e.g., Hesperostipa comata) an entire growing season during wet years one strategy enhance Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) stockpile residual forage future utilization livestock. Our provide reveal nuances suite environmental rangelands.