EFFECTS OF RESIDUAL VEGETATION ON PRAIRIE-CHICKEN NEST PLACEMENT AND SUCCESS'

Abstract

Most early studies on prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus spp.) described grassland quality in terms of plant species composition and agronomic practices (Yeatter 1943, Schwartz 1945, Baker 1953, Ammann 1957). However, Hamerstrom et al. (1957), Tester and Marshall (1962), and Jones (1963) suggested that vegetative structure (height and density) is more important than plant species composition in the selection of habitat by prairiechickens. Also noted was the probable significance of residual cover from the previous growing season (Schwartz 1945, Baker 1953). Due to losses of both native and introduced grasslands, the remnant population of greater prairie-chickens (T. cupido pinnatus) living near Bogota (Jasper County), Illinois, has nested almost exclusively in 405 ha of exotic or restored grasslands on sanctuaries. This study determined how the structure of residual vegetation at these sites influenced the selection of nest cover and the success of prairiechicken nests.