Effects of food supplementation on black-tailed prairie dogs (cynomys ludovicianus) at their northern extent

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dc.contributor.advisorMoehrenschlager, Axel
dc.contributor.advisorBender, Darren
dc.contributor.authorLloyd, Natasha Anne
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-18T22:17:47Z
dc.date.available2017-12-18T22:17:47Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 139-159en
dc.descriptionA few pages are in colour.en
dc.descriptionIncludes copy of animal protocol approval. Original copy with original Partial Copyright Licence.en
dc.description.abstractThis research investigates whether black-tailed prairie dog populations are food limited at their northernmost range extent. A BACI experiment used food supplementation, while accounting for natural food variation, to test whether increased food positively impacted body condition, survival, reproduction, density and expansion. Experimental results did not support food limitation. Reproduction and density increased from 2008- 2009 but remained similar between control and treatment plots. Correlations between vegetation biomass and density suggest that natural food availability in 2008 may have driven population growth into 2009. Percentage of edible vegetation varied between 2008- 2009, raising the question: are prairie dog populations food limited in some years but not others? A negative correlation between winter survival and summer density, suggests internal regulation through density-dependent mortality. Greater overwinter survival than summer may be related to differences in predation pressure. Colony expansion was greater in the absence of food supplementation, suggesting food scarcity drives expans10n.
dc.format.extentxiv, 163 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationLloyd, N. A. (2011). Effects of food supplementation on black-tailed prairie dogs (cynomys ludovicianus) at their northern extent (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4052en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/4052
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/105053
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.titleEffects of food supplementation on black-tailed prairie dogs (cynomys ludovicianus) at their northern extent
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 2024 627942874
ucalgary.thesis.notesUARCen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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