Relationships between Visual Obstruction Measurements and Weight of Grassland Vegetation

TLDR

Prairie chicken habitat suitability depends on vegetation height, density, and screening efficiency rather than species composition alone, prompting the use of optical methods to quantify these attributes. The study aimed to correlate greater prairie chicken movements and locations with different grassland habitat types. Researchers characterized the various habitat types across a 2,500‑hectare grassland area to enable this correlation.

Abstract

As part of a long-term study of greater prairie chicken (Typanuchus cupido pinnatus) ecology in northeastern Kansas (Slade et al. 1965; Robe& 1966; Watt, 1969), an attempt was made to correlate movements and locations of prairie chickens with habitat types. In order to accomplish this, the various habitat types on a 2,500-hectare grassland study area had to be described. Species composition alone could not provide all the information necessary to evaluate the habitat potential of a grassland for prairie chickens. Emlen (1956) indicated that vegetation screening efficiency and density were as important as species present in describing avian habitats. Specifically, Hamerstrom et al. (1957) stated that height and density of grass were “clearly more important to the prairie chickens than species composition.” Various optical means have been used to measure the height and density of vegetation (Wight, 1938; Webb, 1942; Mossman, 1955).