Habitat Requirements

Greater prairie chickens have numerous habitat requirements. Of

great importance is Leks, display grounds where males perform to
attract females. The prairie chickens require that these areas be open
and with only low-growing vegetation. There are numerous ways in
which these requirements can be met. Locations such as grazed
rangelands, oil pads and cultivated fields can all provide possible leks.
(Ryan, 1998)

The next habitat that greater prairie chickens require is for

nesting. These areas must be made up of medium sized vegetation
that is able to provide shade and protection while still being open
enough so that adults can see predators. This habitat is usually
composed of grasses reaching heights of 12”-15” tall but also avoid
being over 31”. (Kirsch, 1974)

Brood habitat, consisting of mainly open area where young of the

year can move around while still providing cover from predation is a
deeply important element of the habitat requirements. This is due to
high mortality among young greater prairie chickens. In most areas
brood habitat is made up of areas with recent disturbance such as
grazed native prairie.

It has been shown that increased energy expenditure in attempts

to find food is a major source of increased mortality for prairie chickens
in the winter months. It is for this purpose that food sources, such as
agricultural fields, should be in close proximity to areas capable of
providing cover. Winter cover generally consists of tall grasses (over
20 inches).

In general, greater prairie chicken habitat requirements consist

of prairie and cropland to the ratio of 3 to 1 with no more than 10
percent of the total area being either wooded or urban for the highest
chances of survival. 2,000 acres is generally considered to be the
minimum area necessary to provide for a viable population of prairie
chickens.

Reasons for Decline

Several reasons explain the Greater Prairie-Chicken’s decline in

the state of Missouri. To begin with, native tallgrass prairies once
covered 34% of the state. They now make up roughly .5%. As is the
case with several endangered species habitat fragmentation deeply
hampers the species ability to persist. Addressing this fragmentation is
central to recovery efforts.

Related to this is contamination of areas by invasive species. By

taking over native prairies and pushing out food and cover species
Greater Prairie Chickens the mortality risks are increased. Non-native
cool season grasses have led to a decrease in overall vegetative
quality in the historic prairies of the Greater Prairie Chicken. This leads
to the next reason of decline. (Johnson, 2003)

Predation and competition significantly reduce prairie chicken

numbers. While all prey species suffer some degree of predation, the
limited numbers of prairie chickens make the losses from predators
such as raptors and raccoons more detrimental on the population.
Furthermore, competition for what resources there are increases stress
on prairie chickens. Ring-necked pheasants are known to lay eggs in
prairie chicken nests. Another competitor for habitat is that of sharp-
tailed grouse.

Limited habitat contributes to the possible outbreak of disease.

This comes from two possible sources. Prairie chickens have the
potential to pick up disease from close contact with other prairie
chickens as well as possible outbreaks from commercial poultry.
Increasing habitat and decreasing contact with foreign species tends to
result in the best outcomes for the prairie chicken populations.

Sources:

Ryan, Mark R., Loren W. Burger, David P. Jones, and Alice P. Wywialowski.
"Breeding Ecology of Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) in Relation
to Prairie Landscape Composition." American Midland Naturalist Jul., 1998 111-
121. Web.

Kirsch, Leo M., "Habitat Management Considerations for Prairie Chickens."

Wildlife Society Bulletin Autumn, 1974 pp. 124-129 . Web.

Johnson, Jeff A. , John E. Toepfer, Peter O. Dunn, and "Contrasting patterns of

mitochondrial and microsatellite population structure in fragmented populations of
greater prairie-chickens ." Molecular Ecology 28 Oct 2003 3335 - 3347. Web.