Ecology and Vulnerability Ruffed Grouse

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Displayed are DSL Landscape Capability (LC) data for the Ruffed Grouse for 2010 (DSL Current) and the future (DSL 2080). LC incorporates habitat, climate, and prevalence to estimate suitable and accessible conditions for the species. LC values can't be compared across species.

Species distribution from USGS GAP.

Also displayed are predicted shifts in Ruffed Grouse habitat due to climate change. Brighter colors mean more ruffed grouse habitat in 2080 under an average of 3 climate models with a lower emissions scenario (moderate climate change) and a high emissions scenario (severe climate change). For more information, see the Climate Change Bird Atlas (CCBA).

Displayed are DSL Landscape Capability (LC) data for the Ruffed Grouse for 2010 (DSL Current) and the future (...

Photo credit: Bill Byrne, MassWildlife

Scientific name:

Bonasa umbellus

Species stressors:

Temperature changes Precipitation changes Changes in winter Development and habitat loss Drought

Profile: Ruffed Grouse ▾▸

Background
The ruffed grouse is a non-migratory bird species that lives in northern forest across Canada and the US¹. Ruffed grouse prefer habitat that includes... Read More

Background
The ruffed grouse is a non-migratory bird species that lives in northern forest across Canada and the US¹. Ruffed grouse prefer habitat that includes a variety of forest cover types, but early successional habitat (young forest with densely growing young trees) is particularly important^1,2,3. Populations of ruffed grouse have been declining in much of their eastern range, including Massachusetts and southern New England, as early successional habitats have given way to mid-aged and mature forest over the past several decades^4,5,6.

Climate Impacts
The distribution of ruffed grouse is closely associated with the distribution of quaking aspen⁷trees, and population densities are typically high in this forest type⁸. Declines in this tree species have been related to climate change, as well as to the reduction in forest disturbance (such as fire and logging) and natural forest successional changes. The distribution of aspen is projected to continue to decline in the future, potentially impacting grouse populations⁹. In the Northeast, quaking aspen is a relatively minor component of forest tree species composition^4,10, but decreases of other young forest species and types will also reduce grouse numbers. Adequate snow cover can also be important for overwinter survival in grouse, as they burrow into deep soft snow during cold winter periods¹¹. Warming temperatures will likely change the quantity and characteristics (e.g., crusting conditions) of snow¹², making snow roosting more difficult. However, warming temperatures may also offset the need for snow roosting in some cases.

Climate change could potentially result in loss of ruffed grouse from states at the southern edge of their range, such as Massachusetts¹³. Modeling studies conducted by the Wildlife Management Institute predict a 20% decline in population size for New England. These studies were based on predicted changes to forest composition as a response to climate change over the next century¹⁴. Modeling conducted by the University of Massachusetts also predicts that climate change will greatly reduce the proportion of the Northeast landscape that is capable of supporting ruffed grouse by 2080¹⁵.

References

1. Rusch, D.H., S. DeStefano, M.C. Reynolds, and D. Lauten. 2000. Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). The Birds of North America, Number 515.

2. Bump, G., R.W. Darrow, F.C. Edminster, and W.F. Crissey. 1947. The ruffed grouse: life history, propagation, and management. Telegraph Press, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

3. Dessecker, D.R., and D.G. McAuley. 2001. Importance of early successional habitat to ruffed grouse and American woodcock. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:456-465.

4. Endrulat, E.G., S.R. McWilliams, and B.C. Tefft. 2005. Habitat selection and home range size of ruffed grouse in Rhode Island. Northeastern Naturalist 12:411-424.

5. Blomberg, E.J., B.C. Tefft, E.G. Endrulat, and S.R. McWilliams. 2009. Predicting landscape-scale habitat distribution for ruﬀed grouse Bonasa umbellus using presence-only data. Wildlife Biology 15:380-394.

6. Porter, W.F., and M.A. Jarzyna. 2013. Effects of landscape-scale forest change on the range contraction of ruffed grouse in New York State, USA. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37:198-208.

7. Kubisiak, J.F. 1985. Ruffed grouse habitat relationships in aspen and oak forests of central Wisconsin. Department of Natural Resources Technical Bulletin 151, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

8. Dessecker, D.R., G.W. Norman, and S.J. Williamson. 2007. Ruffed grouse conservation plan. Ruffed Grouse Society, Coraopolis, PA.

9. Worrall, J.J., G.E. Rehfeldt, A. Hamann, E.H. Hogg, S.B. Marchetti, M. Michaelian, and L.K. Gray. 2013. Recent declines of Populus tremuloides in North America linked to climate. Forest Ecology and Management 299:35-51.

10. Giroux, W., P. Blanchette, J.C. Bourgeois, and G. Cabana. 2005. Ruffed grouse brood habitat use in mixed softwood– hardwood nordic–temperate forests, Quebec, Canada. The Journal of Wildlife Management 71:87-95.

11. Whitaker, D.M., and D.F. Stauffer. 2003. Night roost selection during winter by ruffed grouse in the central Appalachians. Southeastern Naturalist 2:377-392.

12. Hayhoe, K., C.P. Wake, T.G. Huntington, L. Luo, M.D. Schwartz, J. Sheffield, E. Wood, B. Anderson, J. Bradbury, A. DeGaetano, T.J. Troy, and D. Wolfe. 2007. Past and future changes in climate and hydrological indicators in the US Northeast. Climate Dynamics 28:381-407.

13. Hoving, C.L., Y.M. Lee, P.J. Badra, and B.J. Klatt. 2013. Changing climate, changing wildlife: a vulnerability assessment of 400 species of greatest conservation need and game species in Michigan. Wildlife Division Report No. 3564. Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

14. Wildlife Management Institute. 2007. Adapting to climate change: agency science needs to adapt game management to changing global climate. A report to the National Commission on Energy Policy and the Hewlett Foundation. Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, DC.

15. DeLuca, W., and K. McGarigal. 2014. DSL Project Component: Species. Available at < http://www.umass.edu/landeco/research/dsl/documents/dsl_documents.html> (Accessed 29 April 2015).

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Ruffed Grouse (Michigan) ▾▸

Ranking: Presumed Stable

Confidence: Very High

Climate scenario: SRES A1B (Mid-range emissions scenario)

Location: Michigan

Time period: 2050

Although this species was identified as not vulnerable to climate change, the following factors increase vulnerability:

Sensitive to changes in precipitation
Has... Read More

Although this species was identified as not vulnerable to climate change, the following factors increase vulnerability:

Sensitive to changes in precipitation
Has already experienced slight variations in annual precipitation (over the last 50 years)
Slight decrease in population or range size is predicted
Species range may shift and perhaps leave this area.

The factors below decrease this species' vulnerability to climate change:

Ability to move across the landscape and/or disperse relatively long distances

What is a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment?

References

Hoving, C.L., Y.M. Lee, P.J. Badra, and B.J. Klatt. 2013. Changing climate, changing wildlife: a vulnerability assessment of 400 Species of Greatest Conservation Need and game species in Michigan. Wildlife Division Report No. 3564. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI. Available from: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/3564_Climate_Vulnerability_Divisi...

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