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Summary: Vegetatio72:159-166 (1987)
© Dr W. JunkPublishers,Dordrecht - Printedin the Netherlands 159
Rates of vegetation change associated with prairie dog (Cynomys
ludovicianus) grazing in North American mixed-grass prairie
Steve Archer, 1,2, M. G. Garrett3& James K. Detling1
1Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, USA
2present address: Range Science Department, TexasA&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2126,
USA
3pacific Power and Light, Environmental Services, Portland, OR 97204, USA
Accepted7.7.1987
Keywords: Agropyron, Bouteloua, BuchlOe, Detrended correspondence analysis,Diversity, Ecotype, Herbivory,
Stipa, Structure
Abstract
A prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony with a known history of habitation was studied to quantify the
effectsof herbivoryon plant species composition, dominance, stature and diversityin a North American mixed-
grass prairie. Gradient analysis was used to quantify the relationship between plant community structure,
prairie dog density, burrow density and habitation history and to document community-level responses of
plants subjected to heavy grazing pressure. The results quantifythe type, rate and extent of change which plant
populations and communities may undergo in response to the differential grazing of plants variously tolerant
of defoliation.
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