Activity budgets of Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs in the early Monsoon Season

Tierney Adamson

Introduction: Prairie Dogs a Keystone Species

• In grassland ecosystems where they are found, prairie dogs increase species diversity, enhance nutritive value of some plants for other herbivores, provide an abundant food source for predators, and construct burrow systems that afford shelter for many wildlife species.

• Scientists studying prairie dogs in mixed and shortgrass prairies have estimated that at least 208 animal species are associated with prairie dog colonies.

Introduction: Prairie Dog Population Decline• Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) were

once among the most numerous and widespread herbivores in North American grasslands.

• Human activities, such as habitat destruction, poisoning efforts, ‘varmint hunting’ and plague have significantly reduced prairie dog populations to less than 2% of their historical range.

Introduction: Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs on Sevilleta

• Interviews with retired Animal Control Officer John Ford established former distribution prior to extermination in 60’s & 70’s.

• Before this project, 2 small colonies existed along northern (Nunn Flat) & southern (South Gate) fence lines on east side of Sevilleta NWR.

Nunn Flat

South Gate

2 Objectives:• Return a keystone vertebrate

species to the interior of Sevilleta NWR: – ~350 individuals released at

McKenzie Flats site

Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs on Sevilleta: McKenzie Flat Re-Establishment Project

• Ecological research: – the effects of Gunnison’s

prairie dogs on a grassland ecosystem from which they were extirpated ~30 years past.

– Individuals released into 100m x 100m plots set-up with artificial burrows and permanent vegetation monitoring stations and paired w/ 100m x 100m control plots.

Current Study: Seasonal activity budgets of Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs • The overall purpose of my

research is to determine the variation in seasonal activity budgets for Gunnison’s prairie dogs at the McKenzie Flats colony on Sevilleta and compare those activity budgets with climate variables.

• Today I will present summary results for individual activity budget observations conducted during the summer monsoon period, June 28 – July 18, 2006.

Background Material

• Whereas I am studying Gunnison’s prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni), most previous prairie dog research has considered black- or white-tailed prairie dogs.

• J. Hoogland conducted extensive black-tailed prairie dog behavioral research; his insight and field methods are utilized for the current study.

• H. Adams (MS, NMSU) examined seasonal activity budgets of black-tailed prairie dogs in southern NM; her methods are adapted for the current study following Altmann…

• J. Altmann provided the behavioral observation guidelines which ensure non-biased individual observations through time.

Predicted Activity Budgets

• Prairie dogs should be more active during the cooler parts of the day.

• If a prairie dog spends most of its time foraging then it should travel longer distances. If it spends most of its time in vigilant actions then you would expect that it wouldn’t travel as much because it was afraid of predators.

Study Methods• Catch and mark individual

prairie dogs.– 100 Tomahawk live traps

set for 5 nights on and around North Treatment Plot.

– Note sex, weight and paint numbers on individuals with Nyanzol D permanent dye so I can tell individuals apart during observations.

Study Methods

• Create GIS map of my study plot.

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North Treatment Burrow Map June 2006

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Study Methods

• Establish 15’ observation tower (Tierney Box).

Study Methods• In a behavior study, guidelines have to be set in order to best eliminate bias.

• Sessions were divided up into 2 hour segments, with general scans every 30 minutes. Prairie dogs themselves were studied for 5 minutes each.

• The marked individuals were watched from the tower with binoculars.

How do I tell individuals?

Mark Sex Weight "Names"

51 F 520 Ash

52 F 630 Renee

53 F 485 Carrie

54 F 470 Fred

55 F 540 Amelia

56 F 630 Laura

1 M 590 Scott

2 M 750 Jay

3 M 660 Don

57 F 610 Brenda

58 F 640 Caitlin

4 M 710 Andrew

59 F 635 Jennifer

5 M 690 Mike

6 M 630 Alex

60 F 520 Cathy

Life as a pdog…

Pdog Activity Budgets

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General pdogs

ActivitiesBF-Bipedal foragingBV- Bipedal vigilanceQF-Quadrapedal foragingQV-Quadrapedal vigilanceAB-Amicable BehaviorsR-RunningDIG-DiggingGR-Self groomingRST-Resting above groundRIB-Resting in burrowTB-Territorial BehaviorsW-WalkingL-Lost individualNB-Nesting BehaviorHOV-Head out of burrow

vigilance

Foraging and Vigilance

Foraging Activity per Session

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How far will they go?

Vigilance vs. Distance

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Individual pdog

Linear (Individualpdog)

Foraging vs. Distance

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Linear (Pdogindividual)

Effects of ClimateNumber of pdogs vs. Temperature

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Number of pdogs vs. Relative Humidity

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Number of pdogs vs. Wind Speed

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Other Animal Interactions

• Other animals interact with the prairie dogs out on the NT site.

• Pronghorn, Rabbits, Spotted Ground Squirrel, Swainson’s Hawk, and Ferruginous Hawk have been seen.

Discussion

• Further study required.

• Nevertheless, we now can tell a little bit about what the prairie dogs are doing. It appears that there are prairie dogs still in their burrows during the day.

• Prairie dogs have been seen to travel either great distances or not at all.

Further research

• Activity budgets must be determined over each season of the year in order to consider seasonal variation in above ground activity and how activity might relate to climatic variables

• Would also be good to break down foraging activity by plant species consumed.

• There is need to reconsider distance measures:– We need to get at effort and risk put towards foraging

and general above ground activity over time and current measure may fall short.

Acknowledgments

• Sevilleta LTER

• FWS Staff

• Mike Friggens

• Scott Collins

• Ana Davidson

• Jennifer Johnson

• House 1