Environmental Studies Program
Date of this Version
Spring 5-2013
Abstract
Though the greater prairie chicken population in North America has decreased dramatically over the past several decades Nebraska and Colorado both support extremely healthy populations. The introduction of center pivot irrigations systems has been linked to both the decline and success of the greater prairie chicken throughout its range. By creating several maps utilizing Arc GIS conclusions were made regarding the Nebraska and more specifically, the Colorado population. The research by Svedarsky in 2000, stating that 20-30% cropland intermixed with undistributed grasslands is most beneficial to greater prairie chickens are not found in areas devoid of crop cultivation. Throughout its range in both Nebraska and Colorado it can be said that once the majority of land cover in crop rotation becomes the majority, greater prairie chicken populations are hampered.