| Pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma, J. occidentalis) trees (pinyon-juniper) have increased significantly in the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems of the Great Basin since the late 1800s. This expansion represents a primary threat to sagebrush obligate species, including the Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, sage-grouse), an important indicator species repeatedly considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Recent research has shown that even scattered trees (i.e., cover < 2%) in otherwise intact sagebrush negatively impacts lek persistence and sage-grouse survival, especially in productive higher elevation habitats that are important for brood-rearing. Such areas may function as ecological traps that convey attractive resources but adversely affect population vital rates, and could be prioritized for pinyon-juniper removal. We identified ecological traps across the entire range of sage-grouse habitat in Nevada and California by intersecting areas of high productivity as defined by soil temperature and moisture regimes with <10% pinyon-juniper cover using a unique object-based image analysis derived, 1-m resolution percent canopy cover conifer classification product. We prioritized sites for pinyon-juniper removal by overlaying ecological traps with areas of high-index value for sage-grouse that provide managers with a maps identifying targeted removal zones that could be highly beneficial to sage-grouse. |