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.

This dataset contains observations used to better understand the initial establishment of sagebrush (Artemisia sp.), in the first 1-2 years post-wildfire. Field data come from 460 sagebrush populations sampled across the Great Basin and many GIS-derived co-variates are included as well.

This dataset contains observations used to better understand the initial establishment of sagebrush (Artemisia sp.), in the first 1-2 years post-wildfire. Field data come from 460 sagebrush populations sampled across the Great Basin and many GIS-derived co-variates are included as well.

This dataset contains information on seedling survival, physiochemical, morphological, and eco-physiological characteristics of seedlings grown and planted from seed collected from different sagebrush populations as well as the climatic conditions of those seed source sites in relation to the common garden location in which they were planted.

This dataset contains information on seedling survival, physiochemical, morphological, and eco-physiological characteristics of seedlings grown and planted from seed collected from different sagebrush populations as well as the climatic conditions of those seed source sites in relation to the common garden location in which they were planted.

This data release contains a formatted dataset compiled from multiple databases on restoration treatments and environmental conditions from across the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome. With these data, we modeled the influence of environmental conditions and restoration treatments on trends in sagebrush cover using generalized additive models. We then used these models to create maps of projected sagebrush cover 30 years following wildfire (no treatment, and aerial or drill seeding of sagebrush). We also provide maps for the probability of recovery after 30 years without treatment, with aerial seeding of sagebrush, or with drill seeding of sagebrush. Widespread degradation of ecosystem function and biodiversity loss has led to calls for massive investments in ecological restoration across the globe, but limited resources necessitate targeted application of restoration efforts. In western North America, disturbances such as wildfire, drought, and invasive species are increasingly altering the sagebrush biome, degrading habitat for species of conservation concern such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Effective restoration is needed to address these challenges, but understanding the conditions determining when, where, and at what rate sagebrush recovery will occur is a pressing research need across the vast and heterogeneous sagebrush landscape. Files included in this data release: sage_dat_release.csv – compiled and formatted multiple treatment and environmental datasets spanning broad spatio-temporal extents sagebrush_notreat.tif – projected sagebrush cover 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, without treatment sagebrush_notreat_sd.tif – error (summarized across simulations) in projected sagebrush cover 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, without treatment perc_change_sage_aerial_artemisia.tif – projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with aerial seeding Artemisia spp. perc_change_sage_aerial_artemisia_sd.tif – error (summarized across simulations) in projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with aerial seeding Artemisia spp. perc_change_sage_drill_artemisia.tif – projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with drill seeding Artemisia spp. perc_change_sage_drill_artemisia_sd.tif – error (summarized across simulations) in projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with drill seeding Artemisia spp. prob_recovery_notreat.tif – probability of recovery 30 years after wildfire, without treatment prob_recovery_aerial_artemisia.tif – probability of recovery 30 years after wildfire, with aerial seeding Artemisia spp. prob_recovery_drill_artemisia.tif – probability of recovery 30 years after wildfire, with drill seeding Artemisia spp.

This data release contains a formatted dataset compiled from multiple databases on restoration treatments and environmental conditions from across the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome. With these data, we modeled the influence of environmental conditions and restoration treatments on trends in sagebrush cover using generalized additive models. We then used these models to create maps of projected sagebrush cover 30 years following wildfire (no treatment, and aerial or drill seeding of sagebrush). We also provide maps for the probability of recovery after 30 years without treatment, with aerial seeding of sagebrush, or with drill seeding of sagebrush. Widespread degradation of ecosystem function and biodiversity loss has led to calls for massive investments in ecological restoration across the globe, but limited resources necessitate targeted application of restoration efforts. In western North America, disturbances such as wildfire, drought, and invasive species are increasingly altering the sagebrush biome, degrading habitat for species of conservation concern such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Effective restoration is needed to address these challenges, but understanding the conditions determining when, where, and at what rate sagebrush recovery will occur is a pressing research need across the vast and heterogeneous sagebrush landscape. Files included in this data release: sage_dat_release.csv – compiled and formatted multiple treatment and environmental datasets spanning broad spatio-temporal extents sagebrush_notreat.tif – projected sagebrush cover 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, without treatment sagebrush_notreat_sd.tif – error (summarized across simulations) in projected sagebrush cover 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, without treatment perc_change_sage_aerial_artemisia.tif – projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with aerial seeding Artemisia spp. perc_change_sage_aerial_artemisia_sd.tif – error (summarized across simulations) in projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with aerial seeding Artemisia spp. perc_change_sage_drill_artemisia.tif – projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with drill seeding Artemisia spp. perc_change_sage_drill_artemisia_sd.tif – error (summarized across simulations) in projected change in sagebrush cover (relative to no treatment) 30 years following wildfire given local environmental conditions, with drill seeding Artemisia spp. prob_recovery_notreat.tif – probability of recovery 30 years after wildfire, without treatment prob_recovery_aerial_artemisia.tif – probability of recovery 30 years after wildfire, with aerial seeding Artemisia spp. prob_recovery_drill_artemisia.tif – probability of recovery 30 years after wildfire, with drill seeding Artemisia spp.