INS 12 - 21st-century Trajectories of Big Sagebrush Plant Communities

Organizer(s)

• MH

  Martin Holdrege

  Postdoctoral Researcher
  USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, United States

Co-Organizer(s)

• JB

  John Bradford

  Research Ecologist
  USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Arizona, United States
• WL

  William Lauenroth, PhD

  Professor
  Yale School of the Environment, Connecticut, United States
• KP

  Kyle Palmquist

  Assistant Professor
  Marshall University
  Huntington, West Virginia, United States
• DS

  Daniel Schlaepfer

  USGS Southwest Biological Science Center / Northern Arizona University
  Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

Ecosystems dominated by big sagebrush are widespread across western North America and similar shrub steppe ecosystems are common in temperate drylands globally. These North American shrub steppe ecosystems are characterized by big sagebrush, a perennial grass understory, and high forb diversity. Because of their spatial extent, areas rich in mineral resources, relevance for rangeland management, biological conservation, and other land-uses, these systems have been the focus of substantial scientific, management, and political attention. Furthermore, big sagebrush ecosystems have experienced rapid changes in recent decades, and developing an understanding of long-term trajectories for the structure and function of these ecosystems is complicated by a diverse and interacting set of global change factors. < br>< br>This session will explore these challenges by bringing together scientists from diverse perspectives to consider three focal questions: < br>1. What changes do you envision for sagebrush ecosystem composition and structure in the 21st century, and why?< br>2. How can management influence the direction and rate of these changes?< br>3. What are the primary sources of uncertainty, and what are the most important research directions to reduce that uncertainty?< br>< br>Presenters with expertise in big sagebrush ecosystems come from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives and will provide material for a rich synthesis and discussion.

Presentations:

• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  A sagebrush conservation design framework to proactively restore America's sagebrush biome
  

  Presenting Author: Kevin E. Doherty – US Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: Megan K. Creutzburg – Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University

  Co-author: Michele R. Crist – BLM National Interagency Fire Center

  Co-author: Sean P. Finn – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: David M. Theobald – Conservation Planning Technologies

  Co-author: John B. Bradford – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center

  Co-author: Lief A. Wiechman – US Geological Survey

  Co-author: Geoffrey Bedrosian – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: Chad S. Boyd – USDA Agricultural Research Service

  Co-author: Matthew Cahill – The Nature Conservancy, OR, US

  Co-author: Peter S. Coates – U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center

  Co-author: Katherine A. Zeller – U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

  Co-author: Alexander V. Kumar – US Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: Caitlin E. Littlefield – Conservation Science Partners

  Co-author: Jeremy D. Maestas – U.S. Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

  Co-author: Karen L. Prentice – Bureau of Land Management

  Co-author: Brian G. Prochazka – U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center

  Co-author: Thomas E. Remington – Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

  Co-author: William D. Sparklin – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: John C. Tull – US Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: Zack Wurtzebach – Center for Large Landscape Conservation
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Implications of climate-driven shifts of C3 and C4 perennial grass abundance in big sagebrush ecosystems
  

  Presenting Author: Kyle A. Palmquist – Marshall University

  Co-author: Rachel R. Renne – Yale School of the Environment

  Co-author: Daniel R. Schlaepfer – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center / Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Martin Holdrege – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center

  Co-author: John B. Bradford – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center

  Co-author: William K. Lauenroth, PhD – Yale School of the Environment
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  How will climate change alter the extent of core sagebrush areas?
  

  Presenting Author: Martin Holdrege – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center

  Co-author: William K. Lauenroth, PhD – Yale School of the Environment

  Co-author: Kevin E. Doherty – US Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: John B. Bradford – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center

  Co-author: Kyle A. Palmquist – Marshall University

  Co-author: Daniel R. Schlaepfer – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center / Northern Arizona University
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Using resilience and resistance indictors to prioritize management actions in the 21st century
  

  Presenting Author: Jeanne C. Chambers, PhD – USDA-ARS

  Co-author: Jessi L. Brown – USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

  Co-author: John B. Bradford – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center

  Co-author: Kevin E. Doherty – US Fish and Wildlife Service

  Co-author: Michele R. Crist – BLM National Interagency Fire Center

  Co-author: Daniel R. Schlaepfer – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center / Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Alexandra K. Urza – USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

  Co-author: Karen C. Short – USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Climate-sensitive rangeland resistance and resilience indicators for the 21st century
  

  Presenting Author: Daniel R. Schlaepfer – USGS Southwest Biological Science Center / Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Jeanne C. Chambers, PhD – USDA-ARS

  Co-author: Jessi L. Brown – USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

  Co-author: David I. Board, MS – USDA Forest Service, RMRS
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Key elements of adaptive management for burned sagebrush steppe through the 21st century and beyond
  

  Presenting Author: Matthew Germino – USGS
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Climate change as a multiplier of existing ecological threats in sagebrush ecosystems
  

  Presenting Author: Peter B. Adler – Utah State University
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Managing for landscape resiliency to reduce the impacts of invasive annual grasses in the sagebrush steppe
  

  Presenting Author: Megan K. Creutzburg – Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

  Discussion (until session ends)