Sage Grouse Habitat

 Sage grouse rely on sagebrush as their habitat.  Sagebrush rely on seasonal precipitation during the winter and spring, and they carry (or save) the water in their root systems. 

Climate variation can affect the sagebrush ecosystem because warmer weather welcomes the spread of cheatgrass.  Cheatgrass poses the biggest threat to sage grouse habitat because it fills the spaces between grasses and shrubs such as sagebrush and steals water from their root systems, making the area more susceptible to fire.  

After a fire, sagebrush lose their seed bank, while woody species such as Pinyon or Juniper will reestablish due to their seeds being carried and deposited back to the site.  

 

All photos from Google Images