Long term changes in Sage Grouse habitat

Variation in climate across the Great Basin affects the resilience of sagebrush ecosystem following a fire primarily due to precipitation variance and temperature fluctuation.  After a fire, sagebrush requires time to re-establish itself through reseeding.  Because invasive species (i.e. cheatgrass) mature and spread faster, sagebrush is already at a disadvantage.  Drought conditions favor cheatgrass, with its shallow root system able to maximize moisture uptake, as do seasonal temperature fluctuations. 

            Because cheatgrass buildup increases the fuel load in a given ecosystem, especially a sagebrush ecosystem which typically have a very light understory, these conditions will increase the likelihood and severity of fires, and thus contribute inversely to sage grouse recovery, as their habitat is solely within sagebrush ecosystems.  The more resilient the sagebrush, the better the recovery of the sage grouse.  With this in mind, I believe that the Colorado Plateau would be most affected by cheatgrass, due to its warmer temperatures and lower precipitation.