The prairie dog as a keystone species
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Abstract
The prairie dog has a pronounced impact on its grassland ecosystem (King 1955; Uresk and Bjugstad 1983; Miller et al. 1994; Society for Conservation Biology 1994; Wuerthner 1997; Johnsgard 2005). They maintain short vegetation by their grazing and by selective removal of tall plants and shrubs; provide shelter, foraging grounds, and nesting habitat for a diverse array of animals; serve as prey for many predators; and alter soil chemistry.
Do these impacts mean that the prairie dog is a keystone species? To investigate, we first scrutinize the definition for a keystone species. We then document both vertebrates and invertebrates that associate with prairie dogs and their colony-sites. We examine ecosystem processes at colony-sites, and then assess whether the prairie dog is a legitimate keystone species. Finally, we explore the implications of keystone status for the conservation of prairie dogs.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | The prairie dog as a keystone species |
| Chapter | 4 |
| ISBN | 9781559634977 |
| Year Published | 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Island Press |
| Publisher location | Washington, DC |
| Contributing office(s) | Fort Collins Science Center |
| Description | 12 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Monograph |
| Larger Work Title | Conservation of the black-tailed prairie dog: Saving North America's western grasslands |
| First page | 53 |
| Last page | 64 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |