TABLE 2.
Variables considered in our suite of candidate models designed to identify the factors that influence predator‐specific mortality of sage‐grouse nests in Idaho.
| Variable | Source |
|---|---|
| Average minimum temperature during the final survey interval | PRISM Climate Group |
| Average maximum temperature during the final survey interval | PRISM Climate Group |
| Average mean temperature during the final survey interval | PRISM Climate Group |
| Average precipitation during the final survey interval | PRISM Climate Group |
| Average max height of grass | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Average height of grass leaf | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Average of grass amount removed (i.e., Grazed) | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Average effective height of grass | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Percent aerial concealment at the nest shrub | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Average percent horizontal concealment at the nest shrub | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Shrub canopy cover at the nest site (900‐m Scale) | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Shrub canopy cover (8‐, 14‐, 22‐, and 44‐km Scales) | Rigge et al., 2021 |
| Days since last grazed | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Number of new cattle fecal droppings | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Number of old cattle fecal droppings | Measured on‐site (Conway et al., 2019) |
| Distance to fence | BLM (2022), Measured on‐site |
| Distance to road | Idaho Roads, 2019, Measured on‐site |
| Distance to perching structure | Measured on‐site |
| Distance to agriculture | Dewitz and USGS (2021) |
| Distance to perennial water source | USGS (2017) |
| Distance to ephemeral water source |
USGS (2017), Measured on‐site |
| Distance to perennial or ephemeral water source |
USGS (2017), Measured on‐site |
| Distance to nesting structures (e.g., trees or cliffs) | USGS 2016, NLCD (2021), Measured on‐site |
| Distance to powerlines | HIFLD (2022), Measured on‐site |
Note: Variables in bold font are those included in the global model after eliminating correlated variables, redundancy in functional relationships, and optimizing scales of effect.