Declining Population Trends of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken in the Southern Great Plains

Abstract

As a result of habitat loss and inbreeding, lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) have faced severe population decline. This species, once widespread throughout the Southern Great Plains, is now fragmented and rare. As part of a project for the class Biogeography (GEOG 445), our group sought to further investigate the causes of lesser prairie-chicken decline and the conservation programs that are in place to protect them. After utilizing a variety of library research tools, we discovered that prairie-chickens are declining from habitat loss due to agriculture, oil production, windfarms, and fire suppression. We also found that these birds are experiencing a loss of genetic variability due to their fragmented populations. Few conservation efforts are currently in place, though restoring the prairie to its natural state through the use of prescribed burns and native grazing holds some promise. However, 95% of current prairie-chicken populations live on privately owned land, which makes private landowners essential to the protection of this vulnerable species.