Papers
Prairie Strips Improve Biodiversity and the Delivery of Multiple Ecosystem Services from Corn–Soybean Croplands
This paper quantifies the multiple effects of integrating strips of native prairie species amid corn and soybean crops, with prairie strips arranged to arrest run-off on slopes. Published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” in 2017.
Automated Techniques to Identify Lost and Restorable Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region
This study describes a suite of automated methods developed to establish a historical wetland inventory and to identify the proportion of permanently and temporarily lost wetlands in a prairie pothole watershed in Alberta, Canada. Published in “Wetlands” in 2017.
A Case Study Examining the Efficacy of Drainage Setbacks for Limiting Effects to Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, USA
This study was initiated to assess the potential for subsurface drainage to affect wetland surface-water characteristics through a reduction in precipitation runoff, and to examine the efficacy of current U.S. Department of Agriculture drainage setback distances for limiting these effects. Published in “Journal of Wildlife Management” in 2017.
Doing More with Less: Removing Trees in a Prairie System Improves Value of Grasslands for Obligate Bird Species
The authors experimentally removed shelterbelts on areas in the northern tallgrass prairie in North and South Dakota USA while conducting avian surveys to evaluate hypotheses about grassland bird response to the removal of a woodland edge. Published in “Journal of Environmental Management” in 2017.
Developing spatial models to guide conservation of grassland birds in the U.S. Northern Great Plains
The authors combined data collected in 2005–2011 from 16,250 North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) survey points with local and remotely sensed environmental data to model the distribution of 7 grassland bird species in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. Published in “Condor” in 2017.
Precipitation and Soil Productivity Explain Effects of Grazing on Grassland Songbirds
The authors modeled bird abundance to characterize regional response to herbaceous cover, experimentally manipulated grazing to isolate its effect, and then scaled back up to evaluate how the regional environment constrains bird response to grazing. Published in “Rangeland Ecology & Management” in 2016.
Assessment of Repeat‐Visit Surveys as a Viable Method for Estimating Brood Abundance at the 10.4‐km2 Scale
This paper examines the utility of repeat-visit brood counts from 2012 to 2013 surveys in the US Prairie Pothole Region and hierarchical N-mixture models for providing estimates of abundance at a 10.4-km2 scale. Published in “Wildlife Society Bulletin” in 2018.
Prerequisites for Understanding Climate-Change Impacts on Northern Prairie Wetlands
This paper outlines several information needs for building more informative models to predict climate change effects on PPR wetlands. Published in “Wetlands” in 2016.
Avoidance of Unconventional Oil Wells and Roads Exacerbates Habitat Loss for Grassland Birds
This paper examined grassland bird response to unconventional oil extraction sites and associated roads in North Dakota. Published in “Biological Conservation” (2015).
Effects of Wind-Energy Facilities on Breeding Grassland Bird Distribution
This paper tested grassland bird density changes one year and 2-5 years after construction of wind-energy facilities. Published in “Conservation Biology” (2015).