Department of Fish and Game

General Links

Project Links

Contacts

  • Chris Stermer
  • Department of Fish & Game
  • Phone:(916) 445-2626
  • cstermer@dfg.ca.gov
  • 1812 9th Street
  • Sacramento, CA 95811
  • Dr. Eric Loft
  • Department of Fish & Game
  • Phone: (916) 653-9411
  • eloft@dfg.ca.gov
  • 1812 9th Street
  • Sacramento, CA 95811
  • Dr. Mike Morrison
  • UC Davis
  • White Mountain Research Station
  • Phone: (760) 873-4344

Related Agencies

Overview Map

Project Overview Map
Open BIOS Interactive Map

Project Stats

  • Number of Meadows Surveyed:

Researchers

  • Carie Sears
  • Department of Fish & Game
  • Phone:(916) 445-1911
  • csears@dfg.ca.gov
  • 830 S St.
  • Sacramento, CA 95811
 

Inventory and Assessment in Montane Meadow, and Quaking Aspen Communities of the Sierra Nevada

Abstract

The purpose of this inventory and assessment project is to gather baseline information on species, habitats, and communities, for the development of a long-term monitoring strategy for montane meadow and quaking aspen systems in the Sierra Nevada. Currently, a comprehensive inventory of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife in these communities does not exist for the Sierra Nevada. There has been, and are, a multitude of wildlife survey efforts in these communities by State and Federal agencies, academics, and non-government organizations. Even though these efforts are continuously expanding our knowledge of these complex communities, a comprehensive inventory is lacking. Additionally, development of a baseline inventory of animal species will serve as the basis for long-term monitoring in response to management need. A secondary objective of this project is to compile and organize all existing relevant information on these communities (i.e. mapping efforts, habitat information, and survey data); the purpose for data mining is not only to compile and organize the existing data into a common useable inventory, but also to identify where further survey work is warranted.

The wildlife survey is one part of a comprehensive inventory effort, and is closely integrated with the vegetation assessment and community mapping work. Additionally, we began testing and implementing handheld computer data collection technology for eventual support of additional DFG projects.

Accomplishments

The 2003 field season was the first year of an extensive effort to survey priority wildlife species within montane meadows. Much of the effort was directed toward surveying for Willow Flycatchers in locations where no previous survey data exists, but through habitat assessments and analysis of remotely sensed data, determined to be suitable. In addition, we began developing, modifying, and testing, survey protocols for Great Gray Owls and Blue Grouse. Survey protocols for these species will be complete by the 2004 field season.

Montane Meadow

Findings/Observations/Issues

  • 2001 Field Season - With a small field crew (2 Research Assistants) we conducted vegetation assessments in selected meadow systems, worked on developing the vegetation survey protocol, and surveyed for willow flycatchers in 9 meadow complexes in the Eldorado National Forest. We performed 50 vegetation assessments in approximately 15 meadow complexes. Of the nine meadows surveyed for willow flycatchers we induced responses from a total of 17 birds in 3 meadows.
  • 2003 Field Season - With a field crew of 8 Research Assistants we conducted wildlife surveys, over a 3 month period, beginning in June. One-hundred and seventy-three meadow complexes were surveyed to protocol (Bombay et al. 2002) for willow flycatchers. Of these, 51 birds were detected, in 12 meadows. Eleven meadows were surveyed to a modified USFS protocol (under development) for Great Gray Owls, resulting in a detection of 3 birds, in 3 meadow complexes (surveys were done as part of an ongoing Region 4 project). Twenty-three meadows were surveyed to protocol (in development) for Blue Grouse, resulting in 13 detections, in 7 meadows.

 

 
Documents

Title Link
Willow Flycatcher Survey Protocol Link
Great Gray Owl Survey Protocol Link
Assessing distribution, habitat suitability, and site occupancy of great gray owls (Strix nebulosa) in California / by Carie L. Sears. Thesis available at UC Davis Library
 
Data
Data is available for download upon request. Please contact Chris Stermer for more details.