Habitat and population analysis of black-tailed prairie dogs (cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada
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2012
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Abstract
The black-tailed prairie dog is a species at risk in Canada but little is known about the factors that currently govern its distribution and population dynamics at the northern edge of its range. This study focuses on exploring the potential influence of habitat factors on the distribution and demographic parameters on the population dynamics of black-tailed prairie dogs in southwestern Saskatchewan. Habitat analysis revealed that abiotic habitat characteristics influence the distribution of prairie dogs but low occupancy of predicted suitable habitat suggests that other factors such as limited dispersal may also play a role. Over the course of this study, the prairie dog population exhibited dramatic changes in population growth rates. These changes appear to be driven by synchronous crashes in reproductive rates among colonies and asynchronous variation in adult survival.
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Bibliography: p. 100-112
Some pages are in colour.
Some pages are in colour.
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Citation
Stephens, T. (2012). Habitat and population analysis of black-tailed prairie dogs (cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4696