Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) are an ecological indicator species of the sagebrush steppe ecosystem and have declined substantially across their range, mainly attributed to habitat loss and degradation. Wildfire is a leading cause of habitat loss throughout the western portion of sage-grouse range, resulting in adverse effects on population growth rates (λ). Recent studies attributed declines in λ to decreased adult and nest survival following wildfire. However, the relationship between wildfire and chick survival remains unclear. Here, we estimated chick survival at two post-wildfire sites in Nevada and California. We divided chicks into two groups: inside the burn perimeter (n=21) and on edges of the burn perimeter (within a 200m buffer; n=9). We found that chicks within the burn had a survival estimate of 0.35 (95% CRI = 0.23 – 0.49), while chicks at the burn edge had a survival estimate of 0.49 (95% CRI = 0.26 – 0.73). Thus, interiors of burned areas may lead to reduced chick survival, while edges may constitute important habitat for sage-grouse broods in a post-fire site. Future research exploring microhabitat differences between burned interior and its edges could provide valuable insights. These findings are preliminary, subject to change, and provided for best timely science.

Belle is a second year Master’s student in the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis, advised by Dr. Gail Patricelli. She is interested in restoration precision management within post-fire landscapes. For her thesis project, she is working with Dr. Pete Coates’ lab at the U.S. Geological Survey, where she is studying the impact of wildfires on greater sage-grouse utilization distributions. Specifically, she focuses on understanding how broods are using intact sagebrush islands within a post-fire environment. Prior to graduate school, Belle received her bachelor’s in biology at Sonoma State University in 2020.