Flora and fauna associated with Prairie dog colonies and adjacent ungrazed mixed-grass prairie in western South Dakota

Vegetation, small rodents, and birds were sampled during the growing seasons of 2 years on prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies and adjacent mixed-grass prairie in western South Dakota. Prairie dog grazing decreased mulch cover, maximum height of vegetation, plant species richness, and tended...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of range management 1986-03, Vol.39 (2), p.135-139
Main Authors: Agnew, W, Uresk, D.W, Hansen, R.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aves
BIRDS
Brush Management
COLONIALISM
COLONIALISME
COLONIALISMO
Cynomys ludovicianus
DAKOTA DEL SUR
DAKOTA DU SUD
DENSIDAD DE LA POBLACION
DENSITE DE POPULATION
Dogs
ECOLOGIA VEGETAL
ESPECE
ESPECIES
FAUNA
FAUNE
FLORA
FLORE
GRAMINEAS
GRAMINEE
GRASSES
Mice
Mixed grass prairies
OISEAU
PAJAROS
PARCOURS
PHYTOECOLOGIE
PLANT ECOLOGY
Plants
POPULATION DENSITY
PRADERAS DE AMERICA DEL NORTE
PRAIRIE
PRAIRIES
RANGELANDS
Rodentia
RODENTS
ROEDORES
RONGEUR
SEMIARID ZONES
SOUTH DAKOTA
SPECIES
TERRENOS DE PASTURA
Vegetation
Vegetation canopies
ZONA SEMIARIDA
ZONE SEMI-ARIDE
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Description
Summary:Vegetation, small rodents, and birds were sampled during the growing seasons of 2 years on prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies and adjacent mixed-grass prairie in western South Dakota. Prairie dog grazing decreased mulch cover, maximum height of vegetation, plant species richness, and tended to decrease live plant canopy cover compared to that on ungrazed mixed-grass prairie. Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) was the dominant plant on prairie dog towns and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) were most common on mixed-grass prairie sites. Prairie dog towns supported greater densities of small rodents but significantly fewer species compared to undisturbed mixed-grass sites. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and northern grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster) were more abundant on prairie dog towns than on undisturbed mixed-grass sites. Density and species richness of birds were significantly greater on prairie dog towns. Horned larks (Eremophila alpestris) were most common on prairie dog towns, whereas western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) were most common on mixed-grass prairie.
ISSN:0022-409X
2162-2728
DOI:10.2307/3899285