Ecological Consequences of Prairie Dog Disturbances

Whicker, April D.; Detling, James K.

doi:10.2307/1310787

Cited by 327 publications

(238 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The shifting limitations hypothesis (Foster et al 2004), models by Huston (1979Huston ( , 1999, and Grime (1979) and a variety of empirical studies (Whicker and Detling 1988, Collins et al 1998, Wilson and Tilman 2002, Houseman and Gross 2006 indicate that moderate disturbances should to some extent counteract suppressive effects of high fertility and high productivity on invasibility and diversity. Our results largely support this prediction.…”

Section: Community Structure and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Foster

Kindscher

Houseman

et al. 2009

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Prairie hay meadows are important reservoirs of grassland biodiversity in the tallgrass prairie regions of the central United States and are the object of increasing attention for conservation and restoration. In addition, there is growing interest in the potential use of such low-input, high-diversity (LIHD) native grasslands for biofuel production. The uplands of eastern Kansas, USA, which prior to European settlement were dominated by tallgrass prairie, are currently utilized for intensive agriculture or exist in a state of abandonment from agriculture. The dominant grasslands in the region are currently high-input, low-diversity (HILD) hay fields seeded to introduced C 3 hay grasses. We present results from a long-term experiment conducted in a recently abandoned HILD hay field in eastern Kansas to evaluate effects of fertilization, haying, and native species sowing on community dynamics, biomass, and potential for restoration to native LIHD hay meadow.Fertilized plots maintained dominance by introduced grasses, maintained low diversity, and were largely resistant to colonization throughout the study. Non-fertilized plots exhibited rapid successional turnover, increased diversity, and increased abundance of C 4 grasses over time. Haying led to modest changes in species composition and lessened the negative impact of fertilization on diversity. In non-fertilized plots, sowing increased representation by native species and increased diversity, successional turnover, and biomass production. Our results support the shifting limitations hypothesis of community organization and highlight the importance of species pools and seed limitations in constraining successional turnover, community structure, and ecosystem productivity under conditions of low fertility. Our findings also indicate that several biological and functional aspects of LIHD hay meadows can be restored from abandoned HILD hay fields by ceasing fertilization and reintroducing native species through sowing. Declines in primary production and hay yield that result from the cessation of fertilization may be at least partially compensated for by restoration.

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Section: Community Structure and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Foster

Kindscher

Houseman

et al. 2009

Ecological Applications

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“…), an important and widespread herbivore sometimes described as a keystone species (Koford 1958, Paine 1969, Miller et al 1994, Stapp 1998, Kotliar 2000, are of interest in the North American Great Plains. Prairie dogs are colonial, semi-fossorial rodents whose intensive herbivory and burrow creation alter plant community and soil characteristics on their colonies (Whicker andDetling 1988, Baker et al 2000). In Montana, United States, where we conducted this study, colonies are typically <40 ha in size and separated from one another by <10 km.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mountain Plover Responses to Plague in Montana

Dinsmore

Smith

2010

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Plague is a bacterial (Yersinia pestis) disease that causes epizootic die-offs in black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) populations in the North American Great Plains. Through their grazing and burrowing, prairie dogs modify vegetation and landscape structure on their colonies in ways that affect other grassland species. Plague epizootics on prairie dog colonies can have indirect effects on species associated with colonies. The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) preferentially nests on black-tailed prairie dog colonies and is thus negatively impacted by the loss of prairie dogs. We studied the effects of plague and colony spatial characteristics on the occupancy of 81 prairie dog colonies by nesting plovers in Phillips County, Montana, during a 13-year period (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007). We used a robust design patch occupancy model to investigate how colony occupancy and extinction and colonization rates were affected by plague history, colony size, and colony shape. Here extinction and colonization rates refer to the probability that a colony loses/gains plovers in a subsequent nesting season, given that it had/lacked plovers in that breeding season. Colony occupancy was best explained by a model with no annual variation or plague effects. Colony extinction rates were driven by a combination of a quadratic of colony area, a 3-year plague response, and a measure of colony shape. Conversely, colonization rates were best explained by a model with a 4-year plague response. The estimated annual proportion of colonies occupied by plovers was 0.75 (95% confidence interval = 0.57-0.87). Estimated extinction probability ranged from a low of 0. Plague is a bacterial (Yersinia pestis) disease that causes epizootic die-offs in black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) populations in the North American Great Plains. Through their grazing and burrowing, prairie dogs modify vegetation and landscape structure on their colonies in ways that affect other grassland species. Plague epizootics on prairie dog colonies can have indirect effects on species associated with colonies. The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) preferentially nests on black-tailed prairie dog colonies and is thus negatively impacted by the loss of prairie dogs. We studied the effects of plague and colony spatial characteristics on the occupancy of 81 prairie dog colonies by nesting plovers in Phillips County, Montana, during a 13-year period (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007). We used a robust design patch occupancy model to investigate how colony occupancy and extinction and colonization rates were affected by plague history, colony size, and colony shape. Here extinction and colonization rates refer to the probability that a colony loses=gains plovers in a subsequent nesting season, given that it had=lacked plovers in that breeding season. Colony occupancy was best explained by a model with no annual variation or plague effects. Col...

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“…The role of prairie dogs as ecosystem engineers is defined mostly by their construction of deep and complex burrow systems that provide habitat for associated species, such as burrowing owls (Athene cunicilaria) and result in soil mixing. Prairie dogs also alter the vegetative cover on their colonies, with a variety of consequences (Whicker and Detling, 1988), and their importance in maintaining grasslands and reducing shrub encroachment likely has been understated (Weltzin and others,1997). In order to maintain these functions and others within at least part of the historic ranges of prairie dogs, the concept of focal areas for prairie dog conservation was developed.…”

Section: Appendix 3 the Need For Prairie Dog Conservation Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recommended methods for range-wide monitoring of prairie dogs in the United States

McDonald¹,

Stanley²,

Otis³

et al. 2011

Scientific Investigations Report

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Ecological Consequences of Prairie Dog Disturbances

Cited by 327 publications

References 38 publications

Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Mountain Plover Responses to Plague in Montana

Recommended methods for range-wide monitoring of prairie dogs in the United States

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