conservation.arizona.edu - black-tailed prairie dog

McDonald, L. L., T. R. Stanley, D. L. Otis, D. E. Biggins, P. D. Stevens, J. L. Koprowski, W. Ballard. 2011. Recommended methods for range-wide monitoring of prairie dogs in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report. 2011–

thackerk1 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:44:01 +0000

Authors

Lyman L. McDonald

Thomas R. Stanley

David L. Otis

Dean E. Biggins

Patricia D. Stevens

John L. Koprowski

Warren Ballard

One of the greatest challenges for conserving grassland, prairie scrub, and shrub-steppe ecosystems is maintaining prairie dog populations across the landscape. Of the four species of prairie dogs found in the United States, the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) is listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened, the Gunnison's prairie dog (C. gunnisoni) is a candidate for listing in a portion of its range, and the black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus) and white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus) have each been petitioned for listing at least once in recent history. Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined listing is not warranted for either the black-tailed prairie dog or white-tailed prairie dog, the petitions and associated reviews demonstrated the need for the States to monitor and manage for self-sustaining populations. In response to these findings, a multi-State conservation effort was initiated for the nonlisted species which included the following proposed actions: (1) completing an assessment of each prairie dog species in each State, (2) developing a range-wide monitoring protocol for each species using a statistically valid sampling procedure that would allow comparable analyses across States, and (3) monitoring prairie dog status every 3-5 years depending upon the species. To date, each State has completed an assessment and currently is monitoring prairie dog status; however, for some species, the inconsistency in survey methodology has made it difficult to compare data year-to-year or State-to-State. At the Prairie Dog Conservation Team meeting held in November 2008, there was discussion regarding the use of different methods to survey prairie dogs. A recommendation from this meeting was to convene a panel in a workshop-type forum and have the panel review the different methods being used and provide recommendations for range-wide monitoring protocols for each species of prairie dog. Consequently, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA), in coordination with USFWS and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), hosted a prairie dog species survey methodology workshop January 25-28, 2010 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The workshop provided all WAFWA partners and interested parties the opportunity to present their survey methodology to a review panel made up of experts in the fields of quantitative biology, population biology, species biology, and biostatistics. This report presents the panel's survey methodology recommendations for each of the four species of prairie dogs found in the United States and, for the black-tailed prairie dog, a list of action items to facilitate implementation of the recommended methodology.

Additional Information

Date of publication:

2011

Topics

population management

Utah prairie dog

Gunnison's prairie dog

black-tailed prairie dog

white-tailed prairie dog

monitor

Hale, S. L., J. L. Koprowski, and H. Hicks. 2013. Review of black-tailed prairie dog reintroduction strategies and site selection: Arizona reintroduction. In Gottfried, Gerald J.; Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Collins, Loa C., com

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:05:30 +0000

Authors

Sarah L. Hale

John L. Koprowski

Holly Hicks

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) was once widely distributed throughout the western United States; however, anthropogenic influences have reduced the species’ numbers to 2 percent of historical populations. Black-tailed prairie dogs are described as a keystone species in the grassland ecosystem, and provide many unique services, including burrows for other species (e.g. burrowing owls [Athene cunicularia] and rattlesnakes [Crotalus spp.]), nutrient rich soil that, in turn, provides rich vegetationfor grazers, and food for many carnivores and birds of prey. Several efforts have been made to reestablishthis species to its historical range. In southeastern Arizona, a recent reintroduction effort was built upon work of scientists that identified potential suitable areas with characteristics similar to those of existing prairie dog colonies in Mexico. Prairie dogs were first translocated to the sites in 2008, and individuals still remain on the landscape today. We compare this to other reestablishment efforts, and provide suggestions on ways to increase success of future reintroductions.

Additional Information

Review of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Reintroduction Strategies and Site Selection: Arizona Reintroduction

Date of publication:

2013

Topics

black-tailed prairie dog

keystone species

population reduction

reintroduction

reestablishment

Kangaroo rat foraging in proximity to a colony of reintroduced black-tailed prairie dogs

thackerk1 — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 21:57:47 +0000

Authors

Kirsten M. Fulgham

John L. Koprowski

We examined the indirect effects of reintroduced black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) on resident kangaroo rat (Dipodomys) populations. We used the Giving-up Density theory to quantify kangaroo rat foraging on a black-tailed prairie dog colony vs. foraging near the colony edge or in the surrounding native habitat. This approach allowed us to assess the influence of black-tailed prairie dogs on kangaroo rat foraging activity. Our results showed a greater foraging preference off-colony in most seasons. Kangaroo rats visited off-colony feeding trays more frequently and collected a greater mean mass of seed as well. This indicated that kangaroo rats perceived the area off the prairie dog colony as having a lower foraging cost than the on-colony or colony edge locations. Our data suggest that from the perspective of the seed-eating kangaroo rat, the colony is not viewed as high quality habitat. Both prairie dogs and kangaroo rats have been described as keystone modifiers in grassland ecosystems. What impact the reintroduction and management of one keystone species might have on another keystone species deserves additional consideration as we attempt to restore arid grassland ecosystems.

Additional Information

The Southwestern Naturalist 61:194-202.

Date of publication:

2016

Topics

reintroduction

black-tailed prairie dog

kangaroo rat

Giving-up Density theory

foraging

keystone species

Research Categories

Behavioral Ecology Threatened and Endangered Species