Burrow Systems of Prairie Dogs in South Dakota

Abstract

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Interactions between soil biota and the effects on geomorphological features

“…Black-tailed prairie dogs also prefer areas with low vegetation, slope b10%, and silty soils (Reading and Matchett, 1997). C. gunnisoni, C. leucurus, C. ludovicianus and Cynomys parvidens all build similar burrow systems with 1-4 entrances per burrow, at depths from 1 to 4.5 m and lengths from 3 to 36 m (Sheets et al, 1971;Verdolin et al, 2008). These depths are much deeper than the pocket gophers, but similar to the deeper-burrowing harvester ants (Fig.…”

“…In the Kananaskis area on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, forests were free of earthworms until 1985, when the European species D. octaedra and Dendrodrilus rubidus invaded the site (Dymond Table 2 Mean reported burrow depths, widths, mound volumes, mounds per hectare and preferred soil texture for four groups of western North American burrowing animals. Sheets, et al, 1971;Wagner and Drickamer, 2004;Verdolin, et al, 2008 a No data. (Eisenhauer et al, 2007).…”

Animal’s Functional Role in the Landscape

“…The size of their subterranean burrows varies in dependence on the local conditions. Their vertical tunnels (diameter 10-15 cm) extend from 1-3 or even 5 m depth (Sheets et al 1971 ). There, side tunnels branch off from the vertical tunnels, with the nests in broadenings.…”

Immunization of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Against Plague Through Consumption of Vaccine-Laden Baits

“…Many animals, including badgers, canids, hawks, and owls (Miller et al, 1994) use prairie dogs as food resources, but the species most dependent on prairie dogs is the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes; Sheets et al, 1971), thought to be extinct until 1981. A captive breeding and recovery program was established for ferrets in 1987 after disease outbreaks nearly eradicated the last known wild population.…”