Grasslands were once one of largest and most productive ecosystems in North America. Today, they are among the most endangered ecosystems in the continent with >80% of their original expanse lost to  agriculture, urban sprawl, loss of native herbivores, and poor fire management practices. Moreover, most of what is left is profoundly altered and fragmented resulting in a decline and in some cases lost of ecosystem services provided by grassland. With loss of native herbivores and suppression of natural fires, encroachment of woody vegetation have created novel habitat for top predators and increased predation risk for grassland obligates.
Our lab explore how broad-scale factors, such as land use practices and food web composition might mediate short- and long-term outcomes of competition and predation risk for grassland birds. Our goal is to provide wildlife managers with reliable information needed to improve populations of upland birds and grassland integrity.