2026-04-14T23:07:18Zhttps://repository.lib.bcit.ca/oai/requestoai:repository.lib.bcit.ca:node-15412026-03-30T21:59:43Znode:28oai_pmh:all_repository_itemsFactors limiting the expansion of black-tailed prairie dog colonies at their northern extent
Prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are considered a keystone species due to their ecological role in maintaining the prairies. In Canada, they are federally listed as a threatened species. This study was conducted to identify the limiting factors to the expansion of prairie dog colonies in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. I tested different hypotheses to compare landforms, vegetation, and soil characteristics in three treatments: consistently occupied (Consistent), inconsistently occupied (Inconsistent), and never occupied (Buffer) by prairie dogs. I sampled four prairie dog colonies (blocks) from 17 July 2019 to 28 August 2019 using a randomized complete block design. I used ANOVA to test variables for significant differences among treatments. My results showed that hills, water channel, shrublands, grass cover, shrub cover and vegetation height classes (>30 cm) were significantly higher (p <0.05) in Buffer compared to Consistent and Inconsistent. Shrubs and tall vegetation should be mowed down to enhance the expansion of prairie dog colonies for restoring their population.
2020-04-17
English
Singh, Tehlu
Ransome, Douglas
Cohen-Fernandez, Anayansi
Ives, Kim
British Columbia Institute of Technology School of Construction and the Environment
PDF
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Text
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Prairie dogs
Restoration ecology