Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie
Downward trends in populations of many grassland bird species are of conservation concern. Declines in black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) populations result in loss of habitat for birds and other species associated with their colonies. We measured abundance, diversity, and species com...
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crjohnshopkinsun:10.1353/gpr.2015.0005 2024-09-15T18:04:53+00:00 Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie Ray, James D. Wallace, Mark C. McCaffrey, Rachel E. 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/gpr.2015.0005 en eng Project MUSE Great Plains Research volume 25, issue 1, page 75-82 ISSN 2334-2463 journal-article 2015 crjohnshopkinsun https://doi.org/10.1353/gpr.2015.0005 2024-06-27T04:16:16Z Downward trends in populations of many grassland bird species are of conservation concern. Declines in black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) populations result in loss of habitat for birds and other species associated with their colonies. We measured abundance, diversity, and species composition of avian communities on prairie dog colonies and noncolony sites in the Texas Panhandle. More resident species ( P < 0.001) occurred on prairie dog colonies than on noncolony areas whereas, more nearctic-neoptropical migrants ( P = 0.003) and nearctic-temperate migrants ( P < 0.001) occurred on noncolony sites. Total avian abundance was greater ( P < 0.001) on noncolony sites than at prairie dog colonies, and differed by season ( P < 0.001). Barn swallows ( Hirundo rustica ), red-winged blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ), horned larks ( Eremophila alpestris ), and chipping sparrows ( Spizella passerina ) were more abundant on noncolony sites than on prairie dog colonies. Burrowing owl ( Athene cunicularia ), Cassin’s sparrow ( Peucaea cassinnii ), and lark bunting ( Calamospiza melanocorys ) abundances were greater on prairie dog colonies. Vegetative alterations made by prairie dogs may not influence bird populations as much in these shortgrass prairies as has been reported in mixed-grass prairies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Eremophila alpestris Johns Hopkins University Press Great Plains Research 25 1 75 82 |
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Open Polar |
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Johns Hopkins University Press |
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crjohnshopkinsun |
language |
English |
description |
Downward trends in populations of many grassland bird species are of conservation concern. Declines in black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) populations result in loss of habitat for birds and other species associated with their colonies. We measured abundance, diversity, and species composition of avian communities on prairie dog colonies and noncolony sites in the Texas Panhandle. More resident species ( P < 0.001) occurred on prairie dog colonies than on noncolony areas whereas, more nearctic-neoptropical migrants ( P = 0.003) and nearctic-temperate migrants ( P < 0.001) occurred on noncolony sites. Total avian abundance was greater ( P < 0.001) on noncolony sites than at prairie dog colonies, and differed by season ( P < 0.001). Barn swallows ( Hirundo rustica ), red-winged blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ), horned larks ( Eremophila alpestris ), and chipping sparrows ( Spizella passerina ) were more abundant on noncolony sites than on prairie dog colonies. Burrowing owl ( Athene cunicularia ), Cassin’s sparrow ( Peucaea cassinnii ), and lark bunting ( Calamospiza melanocorys ) abundances were greater on prairie dog colonies. Vegetative alterations made by prairie dogs may not influence bird populations as much in these shortgrass prairies as has been reported in mixed-grass prairies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ray, James D. Wallace, Mark C. McCaffrey, Rachel E. |
spellingShingle |
Ray, James D. Wallace, Mark C. McCaffrey, Rachel E. Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie |
author_facet |
Ray, James D. Wallace, Mark C. McCaffrey, Rachel E. |
author_sort |
Ray, James D. |
title |
Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie |
title_short |
Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie |
title_full |
Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie |
title_fullStr |
Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie |
title_full_unstemmed |
Avian Use of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Shortgrass Prairie |
title_sort |
avian use of black-tailed prairie dog colonies in shortgrass prairie |
publisher |
Project MUSE |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/gpr.2015.0005 |
genre |
Eremophila alpestris |
genre_facet |
Eremophila alpestris |
op_source |
Great Plains Research volume 25, issue 1, page 75-82 ISSN 2334-2463 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1353/gpr.2015.0005 |
container_title |
Great Plains Research |
container_volume |
25 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
75 |
op_container_end_page |
82 |
_version_ |
1810442491567013888 |