Willson, MadelineMiller, NatalieJackson, MikaelaDavis, Kenzie2025-03-032025-03-032023https://hdl.handle.net/2097/44789Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award - Group category, grand prizeAs 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.This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Lesser Prairie-ChickenTympanuchus pallidicintusSouthern Great PlainsDeclining habitatConservation programsGenetic variabilityTextWillson, M., Miller, N., Jackson, M., & Davis, K. (2023). Declining populations: Trends of the lesser prairie-chicken in the Southern Great Plains. Unpublished manuscript, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.