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Viewpoint: the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog-Headed for Extinction?

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Viewpoint: the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog-Headed for Extinction? J. Range Manage. 50:459-466 Viewpoint: The black-tailed prairie dog-headed for extinction? GEORGE WUERTHNJ3R The author may be reached at POB 3975, Eugene, Ore. 97403. Abstract ary influence on grassland ecosystems is now greatly diminished. Although a number of studies document the ecological influence The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is 1 of 5 of prairie dogs upon grassland ecosystems (Coppock et al. 1983a, western prairie dog species, and the only species found on the 1983b, Hansen and Gold 1977, Koford 1958, Krueger 1986, Great Plains. Some authorities believe the black-tailed prairie O’Meilia et al. 1982, Whicker and Detling 1988, Reading et al. dog may have been the most numerous of mammalian herbivores 1989, Knowles and Knowles 1994), it is difficult to quantify how found on the plains-with some estimates placing their historic much the present decline in prairie dog numbers has negatively numbers as high as 5 billion. Due to a combination of factors affected Great Plains ecosystem function in terms of nutrient including habitat destruction, hunting, plague, and poisoning cycling, and plant community structure. Given their past num- programs, the black-tailed prairie dog may now be threatened bers, prairie dogs must have been an ecological disturbance factor with extinction across its entire range. In this paper, a tentative prairie dog conservation strategy consisting of core reserves, at least equal to that attributed to wildfire and bison. buffer areas, and corridors is proposed. Noss and Cooperrider (1994) suggest that preventing “biological impoverishment” is the goal of biological diversity preservation. They define biodiversity as the variety of life and its processes. Biodiversity includes the variety of living organisms, the genetic Key Words: Great Plains, rangeland policy, extinction, prairie differences among them, the communities and ecosystems in dog conservation strategy which they occur, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that keep them functioning, yet ever changing and adapting. We tend to think of extinction as affecting only species that are Preservation of biodiversity emphasizes native species over numerically rare, with narrow habitat preferences, or limited dis- exotics, and preservation of biodiversity is more than preserving tribution. Yet, the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys some representative individuals of a species (Noss and ludoviciunus), a species that once numbered in the “billions” of Cooperrider 1994). Species must be protected in such numbers so individuals, and ranged from Mexico to Canada, may be heading as to ensure they can function and participate in maintaining evo- toward extinction. Due to human-caused factors, black-tailed lutionary and ecological processes. By this definition of biodiver- prairie dog populations are now highly fragmented, and isolated sity, black-tailed prairie dog ecosystems are already endangered, (Miller et al. 1994). Most colonies are small and subject to poten- and if current trends are not reversed, the potential even exists for tial extirpation due to inbreeding, population fluctuations, and the extinction of the species altogether. Clearly, then, the dimin- other problems that affect long term population viability ishment of the rodent’s influence upon the Great Plains landscape (Primack 1993, Meffe and Carroll 1994, Noss and Cooperrider is contributing to the biological impoverishment of these grassland 1994). An additional threat is posed by sylvatic plague (Cully ecosystems. To ensure the continuing ecological influence of 1989) which, combined with other human-caused mortality, may prairie dogs upon grassland ecosystems, and long-term viability of hasten the extirpation of the rodent from the Great Plains. Since black-tailed prairie dog populations and associated species, I pro- the turn of the century, it is estimated that prairie dog numbers pose the establishment of a prairie dog reserve system network have been reduced by 98-99% of their former numbers across the consisting of cores, buffers, and linkage corridors. West (Miller et al. 1994). Furthermore, the loss of the prairie dog, a keystone species, may accelerate the extinction of a host of other dependent species (Reading et al. 1989, Miller et al. 1994, Basic Ecology and Description Knowles and Knowles 1994). Even if small populations of black- tailed prairie dogs manage to persist, their ecological-evolution- The black-tailed prairie dog is a burrowing rodent that feeds primarily on grasses. It is 1 of 5 prairie dog species in North America. The 4 other species include the Mexican prairie dog The author wishes to thank Carolyn Cartier, Mollie Matteson, and 2 anonymous (Cynomys mexicanus), white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucu- reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript. I also thank Tim Clark. Richard Reading, Greg Schenbeck, Glen Plumb, Jon Shaps, and Craig Knowles for their insights rus), Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), and Utah into prairie dog ecology. prairie dog (Cynomys pan&fens). Of the 5, the black-tailed Manuscript accepted 24 Aug. 19%. prairie dog is the only one found on the short and mid-grass JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 50(5), September 1997 459 plains east of the Rockies. Black-tail prairie dogs avoid areas livestock producers that prairie dogs compete with domestic live- with tall grass, heavy sagebrush, and other thick vegetative cover stock for forage (Clark 1989). Areas in and around prairie dog which interfere with detection of predators (Krueger 1986, Clark colonies often look “overgrazed” with an abundance of bare soil, and Stromberg 1987). Historically, the species ranged from the little litter, and a carpet of short, heavily cropped vegetation. southern Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada south through the Long term occupancy on a site by prairie dogs can shift vegeta- plains states to northern Mexico (Clark and Stromberg 1987). tive communities from dominance by climax perennial grassesto Black-tailed prairie dogs live in family groups, protecting indi- early serial stages characterized by forbs and annuals. This con- vidual group territories within a larger colony matrix. Although tributes to the impression among livestock operators that prairie most prairie dogs are somewhat colonial, black-tailed prairie dogs dogs degrade rangelands (Knowles and Knowles 1994). form the largest colonies, and achieve the highest densities of the Ironically, heavy grazing by livestock, as well as some facets of 5 species (Knowles and Knowles 1994). livestock production, can lead to an expansion in prairie dog Burrows are the key to prairie dog survival. They provide pro- numbers (Knowles 1985, Knowles 1986a). The shorter grasses tection from weather, predators, and a den for young. Most social and bare dirt that result from heavy grazing favors prairie dog interactions center on burrows. Burrows tend to be regularly colony enlargement by removing tall vegetation which otherwise spaced within a colony (Knowles 1982). Prairie dog burrows are limits the rodent’s ability to see predators (Coppock et al. 1983a, also an extremely valuable resource for other species including 1983b). swift fox (Vulpes v&x), black-footed ferret (Musrelu nigripes), However, even where prairie dog numbers do increase, they burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), among others, providing may not pose a threat to livestock production as presumed. shelter from weather and protection from predators. Indeed, the Continual cropping by prairie dogs, particularly on recently colo- occurrence of prairie dog burrows may be a key element for the nized sites, tends to maintain high forage quality, and produces survival of many other species (Knowles and Knowles 1994). plants with greater palatability than non-prairie dog sites (Krueger 1986, Whicker and Detling 1988). Such sites are attrac- tive to cattle as well as a host of other grazing species such as Historical Accounts bison (Bison) elk (Cervus e&&us), and antelope (Antilocupra americana) (Coppock et al. 1983a, 1983b, Knowles 1986a, Early historical records suggest black-tailed prairie dogs may Krueger 1986). have been the most abundant mammals in North America at the Whether or not prairie dogs are actually competitors with time of first Euro-American explorations of the West. In 1805, domestic animals, there is overlap in diet. Under normal circum- while skirting the Missouri River near its confluence with the stances, prairie dogs consume 18-37% of the vegetation in the Marias River, Meriwether Lewis, crossed a town of “barking immediate vicinity of their colonies (Hansen and Gold 1977, squirrels” or prairie dogs more than 7 miles wide. The expedition O’Meilia et al. 1982, Knowles 1986a), although there are a few leaders described prairie dog numbers encountered along their cases where herbivory can reach 80% vegetation loss by the end journey as “infinite” (Coues 1893). Messiter (1890), traveling of the summer (Knowles and Knowles 1994). In extreme cases, through northern Montana, recorded a prairie dog colony he esti- cattle herbivory, combined with cropping of plants by prairie mated to be 3&40 miles long. One colony in the Texas panhan- dogs, can remove a substantial portion of the vegetation on small dle reported by Vernon Bailey of the U.S. Biological Survey was vegetation patches, achieving a utilization level of 90% by the an estimated 250 miles long by 100 miles wide, and may have end of a growing season (Knowles 1986a). Other studies have been home to more than 400 million prairie dogs (Davis
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