Invertebrates in the Diet of Greater Sage-grouse: A Systematic Map

Faron M.M. Bott, Nyssa Whitford, Steven Bower, Michael Finn Curran

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urphasianus) are considered an umbrella species for the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. Conservation efforts have been made to protect this species as they have neared Endangered Species status. Protecting the many aspects of their habitat has been crucial to protecting the species, and understanding and protecting their food sources is a critical tool in supporting sage-grouse populations. Insects are known to be a part of their diet, specifically for the juvenile sage-grouse, but which insects and what portion of their diet these insects comprise is not well understood. In this paper, we have conducted systematic mapping of the known research on this topic. Analyses done from 1933 through 1994 were compiled to identify knowledge clusters and gaps on the known insect diet of these birds, while studies from 1994 through 2023 were analyzed on what insect species are found in their habitat. Many knowledge gaps were found to exist with little to no knowledge clusters, and further research into this topic is needed to assist land managers in choosing practices to best benefit sage-grouse populations through encouraging beneficial insect diversity and abundance.