Conflicting research on the demography, ecology, and social behavior of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni)

Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) are rare, diurnal, colonial, burrowing, ground-dwelling squirrels. Studies of marked individuals living under natural conditions in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s showed that males are heavier than females throughout the year; that adult females living i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mammalogy 2012-08, Vol.93 (4), p.1075-1085
Main Authors: Hoogland, John L., Cully, Jack F., Rayor, Linda S., Fitzgerald, James P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Biological and medical sciences
coloniality
Cynomys gunnisoni
Demography
Dogs
Ecological genetics
Ecology
Evolutionary psychology
FEATURE ARTICLES
Female animals
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Kinship
Male animals
Mammalia
Mating behavior
Microsatellites
multiple paternity
National parks
philopatry
Prairies
Sexual dimorphism
Social behavior
Studies
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) are rare, diurnal, colonial, burrowing, ground-dwelling squirrels. Studies of marked individuals living under natural conditions in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s showed that males are heavier than females throughout the year; that adult females living in the same territory are consistently close kin; and that females usually mate with the sexually mature male(s) living in the home territory. Research from 2007 through 2010 challenges all 3 of these findings. Here we discuss how different methods might have led to the discrepancies.
ISSN:0022-2372
1545-1542
1545-1542
DOI:10.1644/11-MAMM-A-034.3