We evaluated nest site selection and nest survival both before and after a fire disturbance occurred. We then combined those surfaces to determine the areas which were most heavily impacted by the fire.

These data are a habitat restoration index based on the intersection of loss of habitat selected by sage-grouse and loss of habitat contributions to nest survival following wildfire.

These data are a habitat restoration index based on the intersection of loss of habitat selected by sage-grouse and loss of habitat contributions to nest survival following wildfire.

We monitored Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, Sage-Grouse) nests and various habitat characteristics at the nest locations near Susanville in northeastern California, crossing over into northwestern Nevada. We employed a before-after-control-impact (BACI) experimental design to account for spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the system and to derive estimates of relative change in survival parameters. Sage-Grouse nest survival decreased after the Rush Fire but decreased more in the burned area relative to the unburned area. Although female Sage-Grouse continued to occupy burned areas, nest survival was reduced from 52 percent to 19 percent. Using a BACI ratio approach we found that nest survival decreased approximately 51 percent in the burned area, relative to the unburned area, following wildfire. Habitat analyses were restricted to the post-fire period and found that female Sage-Grouse that nested within unburned areas selected for wider nesting substrate, taller perennial grass height, and greater low sagebrush canopy cover. Conversely, female Sage-Grouse that nested in burned areas used shorter sagebrush canopy cover than what was available across the entire study area, but showed stronger selection for perennial grass height than their unburned counterparts. Strong nest-site fidelity in sage-grouse may explain the continued use of suboptimal habitat in wildfire-altered landscapes, resulting in a reproductive cost, and overall reproduction well below replacement rate. Results suggest that fire suppression or rapid post-fire habitat restoration, especially within nesting habitat, may be essential to conserving robust Sage-Grouse populations into the future.

We monitored Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, Sage-Grouse) nests and various habitat characteristics at the nest locations near Susanville in northeastern California, crossing over into northwestern Nevada. We employed a before-after-control-impact (BACI) experimental design to account for spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the system and to derive estimates of relative change in survival parameters. Sage-Grouse nest survival decreased after the Rush Fire but decreased more in the burned area relative to the unburned area. Although female Sage-Grouse continued to occupy burned areas, nest survival was reduced from 52 percent to 19 percent. Using a BACI ratio approach we found that nest survival decreased approximately 51 percent in the burned area, relative to the unburned area, following wildfire. Habitat analyses were restricted to the post-fire period and found that female Sage-Grouse that nested within unburned areas selected for wider nesting substrate, taller perennial grass height, and greater low sagebrush canopy cover. Conversely, female Sage-Grouse that nested in burned areas used shorter sagebrush canopy cover than what was available across the entire study area, but showed stronger selection for perennial grass height than their unburned counterparts. Strong nest-site fidelity in sage-grouse may explain the continued use of suboptimal habitat in wildfire-altered landscapes, resulting in a reproductive cost, and overall reproduction well below replacement rate. Results suggest that fire suppression or rapid post-fire habitat restoration, especially within nesting habitat, may be essential to conserving robust Sage-Grouse populations into the future.

Sage-grouse continue to use habitat following wildfire, so prioritizing high selection, low survival areas can help ameliorate potential post-wildfire ecological traps. This shapefile represents areas within the burn scars at the Virginia Mountains field site which are high selection and high or low survival which have been deemed to be 'priority' targets for post-fire restoration efforts. The 'burn scar' used in this project is an amalgamation of multiple fires which occurred within the field site during the summers of 2016 and 2017.

We developed a framework that strategically targets burned areas for restoration actions (e.g., seeding or planting sagebrush) that have the greatest potential to positively benefit Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) populations through time. Specifically, we estimated sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) recovery following wildfire and risk of non-native annual grass invasion under three scenarios: passive recovery, active restoration with seeding, and active restoration with seedling transplants. We then applied spatial predictions of integrated nest site selection and survival models before wildfire, immediately following wildfire, and at 30 and 50 years post-wildfire based on each restoration scenario and measured changes in habitat. Application of this framework coupled with strategic planting designs aimed at developing patches of nesting habitat may help increase operational resilience for fire-impacted sagebrush ecosystems.

We developed a framework that strategically targets burned areas for restoration actions (e.g., seeding or planting sagebrush) that have the greatest potential to positively benefit Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) populations through time. Specifically, we estimated sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) recovery following wildfire and risk of non-native annual grass invasion under three scenarios: passive recovery, active restoration with seeding, and active restoration with seedling transplants. We then applied spatial predictions of integrated nest site selection and survival models before wildfire, immediately following wildfire, and at 30 and 50 years post-wildfire based on each restoration scenario and measured changes in habitat. Application of this framework coupled with strategic planting designs aimed at developing patches of nesting habitat may help increase operational resilience for fire-impacted sagebrush ecosystems.

We evaluated the expected success of habitat recovery in priority areas under 3 different restoration scenarios: passive, planting, and seeding. Passive means no human intervention following a fire disturbance. Under a planting scenario, field technicians methodically plant young sagebrush saplings at the burned site. The seeding scenario involves distributing large amounts of sagebrush seeds throughout the affected area.

We evaluated the expected success of habitat recovery in priority areas under 3 different restoration scenarios: passive, planting, and seeding. Passive means no human intervention following a fire disturbance. Under a planting scenario, field technicians methodically plant young sagebrush saplings at the burned site. The seeding scenario involves distributing large amounts of sagebrush seeds throughout the affected area.