196 
THE WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY • Vol. 124. No. 1. March 2012 
ECOLOGY, CONSERVATION, AND MAN¬ 
AGEMENT OF GROUSE. Edited by Brett K. 
Sandercock, Kathy Martin, and Gemot Segelhacher. 
Studies in Avian Biology Number 39. University of 
California Press, Berkeley, USA. 2011: xvi and 358 
pages. ISBN 978-0-520-27006-0. S70.00 (cloth).— 
This attractive Volume resulted from the 11"‘ 
International Grouse Symposium held in 2008 in 
Whitehorse. Yukon, Canada. Forty-three manu¬ 
scripts were submitted of which 25 survived peer 
review (61 reviewers are identified). The material is 
presented in 25 chapters (76 different authors) 
separated into four sections (Spatial Ecology, 
Habitat Relationships, Population Biology, and 
Conservation and Management). Eight species of 
grouse (Tctraoninae) are included: four species of 
prairie grouse, three ptarmigan, and one forest 
grouse. Only two chapters originate outside of 
North America (France) and the Volume is not 
overly representative of grouse species throughout 
their Holarctic distribution. Compounding the 
limited view of the distribution of grouse to North 
America, five papers originate from work in 
Kansas, three each from Idaho and Nebraska, (wo 
each from California and the Dakotas, and one each 
from Alaska. Alberta, British Columbia/Manitoba, 
Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and one is an 
overview ot habitat models for prairie grouse. This 
is mostly a synopsis of grouse research in western 
North America. Despite the locus on prairie grouse 
(19 of 25 chapters) in North America, the subject 
material is quite broad and the papers use a wide 
range of modem methodology. 
Modeling was explicitly used in 18 chapters as 
was radiotelemetry while implants of testosterone 
(# 14), molecular genetics (# 21), stable isotopes 
(# 21). and transplants (# 22) were used in one 
chapter each. Response to hunting is reported in 
three chapters (#s 23, 24, and 25) and Adaptive 
Harvest Management was examined in one (# 25). 
Etfects of anthropogenic disturbances, not includ¬ 
ing hunting, are mentioned in three chapters (#s 5, 
19, and 20). Thus, there is ample reference to 
well-tested techniques and exploration of evolv¬ 
ing approaenes. 
The Volume is heavily slanted toward rese 
on Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus 
P'do) and Greater Sage-Grouse (Centroce 
urophasiamts), each with eight separate chap 
his probably reflects recent and current resea 
Distant second place with two chapters each 
rZTp Pra, " c ' Chickcn ('/: pallidicinctus) 
Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). Only Gre; 
Sage-Grouse and Lesser Prairie-Chicken are ol 
major immediate conservation concern as both an 
Candidates for T or E listing in the United State* 
while the former has been listed as Endangered 
in Canada. However, grouse as a group with sev 
eral exceptions have been generally negative!} 
impacted by habitat fragmentation and loss acres* 
their collective distribution. 
The information in Studies in Avian liiolog\ 
Number 3V has general application for a variety 
of species dependent upon native prairies and 
sagebrush (,Artemisia spp.) steppe. The impor¬ 
tance of landscape scale is emphasized in the 
section on Spatial Ecology while how habitat 
affects nest success and brood survival is explored 
in the section on Habitat Relationships. These are 
important issues for maintenance of grouse 
populations. 
It is difficult to focus on all chapters in this 
Volume hut the chapter by Kalerand Sandercock 
on success of a transplant of Evermann's Rock 
Ptarmigan (L. in. evermanni) to an isolated island 
in the Aleutian Archipelago where the species had 
been extirpated should be of interest to population 
biologists. The behavior (and nest success and 
production of young) of newly translocated hens 
was similar to that of established hens resulting 
from transplants in prior years. This work 
suggests that translocations of non-migratory land 
birds to former habitats on isolated islands, once 
causes of local extirpation have been resolved, 
can be successful and have great potential using 
wild-trapped stock. Many populations ot grouse 
are non-migratory and. because of habitat loss and 
fragmentation, may have been extirpated from 
former habitats. Provided suitable habitat can be 
secured and managed, it is possible that popula¬ 
tions can he re-established. 
The reality of grouse biology is that habitat 
(mentioned in at least 18 of 25 chapters) is most 
important followed by nest success and survival 
of chicks to recruitment into the subsequent 
breeding population. These factors are nicely 
covered and new data are presented. I was also 
impressed with the discussion ot hunting 
although the data from California and Nevada 
do not nicely mesh. Hunting can be addin-e 
mortality or the effects can he compensatory of 
not be adequately measured. Clearly, hunting i' 1 
October can affect and depress grouse popula¬ 
tions. Use of Adaptive Harvest Managetnen' 
(AHM) has been used for waterfowl under th.u 
specific name and for changes in hunting 
