Prairie dog effects on harvester ant species diversity and density

Kretzer, J. E.; Cully, J. F.

doi:10.2458/azu_jrm_v54i1_kretzer

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Following an intensive poisoning campaign lasting over a century (Merriam 1902), populations of the black‐tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) declined by an estimated 98% with prairie dogs now viewed as keystone species (Kotliar 2000) impacting significantly on local biodiversity. Sites colonized by prairie dogs had different ant (Kretzer & Cully 2001) and grasshopper (Russell & Detling 2003) species assemblages to non‐colonized sites. The creation of nutrient‐rich prairie dog ‘towns’ led to the establishment of diverse, nutritious forage (Whicker & Detling 1988; Winter et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape ecology of the burrowing bettong: Warren distribution and patch dynamics in semiarid eastern Australia

Noble¹,

Müller

Detling

et al. 2007

Austral Ecology

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In arid and semiarid Australia fossorial vertebrates have been a major component of the soil biota mediating many fundamental landscape processes. However, many species such as the burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur) have become seriously depleted following European pastoral settlement. As 'landscape engineers', they were responsible for creating and maintaining a high degree of surface heterogeneity that promoted a diverse and productive herbaceous understorey, particularly in 'hard-red' communities dominated by mulga (Acacia aneura). While their regional extinction has had major impacts by contributing to desertification and loss of biodiversity, relict warrens 'engineered' by B. lesueur still remain in certain ecosystems and despite continual weathering, contribute significantly to herbage productivity and species diversity. This paper details the results obtained from a number of field studies aimed at determining the distribution of relict warrens at contrasting scales and their influence on landscape patch dynamics resulting from their impacts on soil nutrients, herbage composition and herbivory. Finally, the conservation implications following the continental extinction of this species and the resulting loss of fundamental ecosystem services, as well as cultural values, are discussed in the context of future re-introduction efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape ecology of the burrowing bettong: Warren distribution and patch dynamics in semiarid eastern Australia

Noble¹,

Müller

Detling

et al. 2007

Austral Ecology

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“…Little is known about the individual effects of these rodents on arthropods, and nothing is known about their potential interactive effects on arthropod communities. Studies of prairie dog and kangaroo rat impacts on arthropods have been limited both in geographic coverage and the taxa involved (Wilcomb 1954, O'Meilia et al 1982, Davidson et al 1984, Hawkins and Nicoletto 1992, Valone et al 1994, Schooley et al 2000, Kretzer and Cully 2001, Russell and Detling 2003, Bangert and Slobodchikoff 2006). Given that arthropods represent diverse trophic groups, play important roles in ecosystem processes, and comprise much of the biodiversity in grassland ecosystems (Crawford 1981, Whitford et al 1995), it is important to understand the key drivers that organize the structure of these communities.…”

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confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of keystone rodents on the structure of desert grassland arthropod communities

Davidson¹,

Lightfoot²

2007

Ecography

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Certain species play particularly large roles in ecosystems, and are often referred to as keystones. However, little is known about the interactive effects of these species where they co-occur. Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) and banner-tailed kangaroo rats Dipodomys spectabilis are commonly considered keystone species of grassland ecosystems, creating a mosaic of unique habitats on the landscape through ecosystem engineering and herbivory. We examined the separate and interactive effects of these species on the structure of grassland arthropod communities. We conducted a cross-site study at two locations in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, and evaluated the impacts of these rodents on ground-dwelling arthropod and grasshopper communities in areas where prairie dogs and kangaroo rats co-occurred compared to areas where each rodent species occurred alone. Our results demonstrate that prairie dogs (C. gunnisoni and C. ludovicianus ) and banner-tailed kangaroo rats had keystone-level impacts on arthropod communities both separately and interactively. Their burrow systems provided important habitats for multiple trophic and taxonomic groups of arthropods, and increased overall arthropod abundance and species richness. Many arthropods also were attracted to the aboveground habitats around the mounds and across the landscapes where the rodents occurred. Detritivores, predators, ants, grasshoppers, and rare rodent burrow inhabitants were especially associated with prairie dog and kangaroo rat activity. The impacts of prairie dogs and kangaroo rats were unique, and the habitats they created supported different assemblages of arthropods. Where both rodent species co-occurred, there was greater heterogeneity and arthropod diversity on the landscape. Our results suggest that the interaction of multiple keystones, especially those with engineering roles, results in unique and more diverse communities in time and space.

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“…As voracious predators, camel spiders may drastically influence an arthropod community associated with the vegetation-structure differences between colonies and grassland. Other studies have reported lower abundances of grasshoppers and harvester ants on prairie dog colonies (O'Meilia et al 1982, Kretzer andCully 2001). More-recent research has demon strated higher abundances of grasshoppers and general increases in arthropod diversity on colonies (Russell andDetling 2003, Bangert andSlobodchikoff 2006).…”

Section: ]mentioning

confidence: 95%