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WREN - KANAB HIGH SCHOOL

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT STUDIES
FALL 2016

Introduction

What makes Science a unique style of understanding the world is the use of the Scientific Method: stating a question, posting a hypothesis, collecting data, analyzing the data and the determining whether to support or refute the hypothesis. 

Background

Picture


In the spring, female Greater sage-grouse are watching males display on leks (a traditional place where males assemble during the mating season and engage in competitive displays that attract females) , in order to select the 'best' male to mate with.  They are using sagebrush and other shrubs to hide from the elements and predators.  Females are also looking for a place to make a nest once they mate.  Nests are located under larger sagebrush, to protect the next and the hen from visual predators.

Gathering Data

Kanab High School students learned about Greater sage-grouse in Southern Utah.  We then investigated the habitat of female sage-grouse.  Using known locations of grouse, we compared habitat characteristics of these actual locations to random locations. We used these comparisons to support or refute our hypothesis.
Picture
Shrub Height
​

Measuring shrub height gives an indication is the sagebrush and other shrubs are high enough to provide shelter from the elements or to provide a nesting location.
Picture
Ground Composition
​

Ground composition is a measure of what types of vegetation are in the landscape.  Nesting hens prefer a diversity of plants such as grasses and forbs, surrounding their nesting location.  This provides visual cover from predators. It is also harder to detect their scent in a mixed vegetation environment.
Click To View Full Lesson Plan, Data, and Conclusions

PHOTO GALLERY - KANAB HIGH SCHOOL 2016

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT STUDIES
SPRING 2015

Picture
Click to View Full Lesson Plan, Data, And Conclusions
GREATER SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT STUDIES
​FALL 2014
Click to view full lesson plan, data, and conclusions
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Picture
Copyright © 2015
Photo from Petr Meissner
  • Home
  • Outreach & Education
    • Wildlife Research Education Network >
      • WREN - Canyon View High School
      • WREN - Cedar High School >
        • Wild Bee ID Guide
      • WREN - Kanab High School
      • WREN - Rowland Hall Prep
    • Southern Utah Wild Turkey Research
    • Cedar Breaks Wildlife Inventory
    • Ringtail Cat Research
  • Wildlife Ecology & Management
    • Free-Roaming Horses Information
    • Free-Roaming Horses: National Survey of U. S. Public Knowledge and Opinions
    • Public Knowledge and Opinion of Free-roaming Horses
    • Knowledge of University Faculty, Staff and Students
    • Public Opinion of Horse Management
    • Horse and Wildlife Interactions
    • Appendix 1 Knowledge Questions Asked in National Survey
  • Agricultural Wildlife Management
  • Sensitive Species Management
    • Utah Prairie Dog Conservation
  • Featured Animal Topics
    • Amphibians
    • Birds
    • Small Mammals >
      • Fox Squirrels
    • Intermediate Mammals
    • Large Mammals
    • Reptiles
    • Arthropods
    • UtahWildlifeCrossings
    • Questions from the Community >
      • Animal Conservation Questions
      • Agriculture/Wildlife Conflict Questions
      • Animal Identification Questions
      • Backyard Wildlife Questions >
        • Squirrel Questions from the Community
  • Meet the Specialist
  • Additional Resources