ABSTRACT
Abstract. The Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is an iconic species of the Southern Great Plains that has experienced significant declines in population numbers and distribution since European settlement. Large-scale land use changes such as conversion of prairies to crop lands, suppression of fire, invasive species, and industrialization have led to ongoing declines. Interest in conservation has recently increased due to the federal listing process of Lesser PrairieChickens as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The chapters contained
in this volume detail the state of knowledge and recommendations for the recovery of this sensitive prairie grouse. The scope of recovery is significant in that conservation plans encompass five states, multiple agencies, thousands of private landowners, and industry partners. While the information necessary for recovery is largely known, the collective will to implement recovery is uncertain.
