Transcript Habitat use and activity budgets on Gunnison`s

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.
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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
Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs on Sevilleta:
McKenzie Flat Re-Establishment Project
2 Objectives:
• Return a keystone vertebrate
species to the interior of Sevilleta
NWR:
– ~350 individuals released at
McKenzie Flats site
• 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
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North Treatment Burrow Map
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June 2006
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Artificial Burrow
Large Burrows
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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
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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
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690
Mike
6
M
630
Alex
60
F
520
Cathy
Life as a pdog…
Male pdogs
Pdog Activity Budgets
Female pdogs
General pdogs
70
60
Percentage
50
40
30
20
10
0
BV
BF
QV
QF
AB
R
DIG GR RST RIB
Activity
TB
W
L
NB HOV
Activities
BF-Bipedal foraging
BV- Bipedal vigilance
QF-Quadrapedal foraging
QV-Quadrapedal vigilance
AB-Amicable Behaviors
R-Running
DIG-Digging
GR-Self grooming
RST-Resting above ground
RIB-Resting in burrow
TB-Territorial Behaviors
W-Walking
L-Lost individual
NB-Nesting Behavior
HOV-Head out of burrow
vigilance
Foraging and Vigilance
General
Foraging Activity per Session
General
Vigilance Activity per Session
Male
Male
Female
Time spent vigilant
Time spent foraging
2500
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1000
500
Female
600
500
400
300
200
100
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Session
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How far will they go?
Vigilance vs. Distance
Foraging vs. Distance
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Linear (Pdog
individual)
Distance (m)
Distance (m)
Pdog individual
0
100
200
Time (s)
300
400
Individual pdog
90
80
70
60
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Linear (Individual
pdog)
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100
150
Vigilance Time (s)
200
250
300
Effects of Climate
Number of pdogs vs. Temperature
Number of pdogs vs. Wind Speed
Pdog individuals
Pdog individuals
Number of pdogs
10
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Wind Speed (km/hr)
Temp (in C)
Number of pdogs vs. Relative Humidity
Pdog individuals
10
Number of pdogs
Number of pdogs
10
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Relative humidity (%)
60
80
10
12
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
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Sevilleta LTER
FWS Staff
Mike Friggens
Scott Collins
Ana Davidson
Jennifer Johnson
House 1