Plant-herbivore interactions in a North American mixed-grass prairie. II. Responses of bison to modification of vegetation by prairie dogs
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Authors: D. L. Coppock, J. E. Ellis, J. K. Detling, and M. I. Dyer
Date: 1993
Journal: Oecologia
Volume: 56
Number: 10-15
Summary of Methods: A study conducted at Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, following preliminary assessments of bison (Bison bison) use of prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns, found that midsummer was when bison most frequently used prairie dog towns. Day-long observations revealed that bison exerted strong selection (nearly 90% of all habitat use and feeding time) for the prairie dog town, which occupied only 39% of the valley. While there, they partitioned their use of the colony by grazing in moderately affected areas and by resting in the oldest areas. Bison wallows increased steadily in density from 0.4/ha off town to 10.9/ha in the old town. The processes influencing bison use of this dog town may not operate to the same extent in other community types.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: prairie dogs, cynomys ludovicianus, bison, bison bison, mixed-grass prairie, habitat use patterns, herbivory, grazing, forage interactions
Annotation: Grazing intensity is not specified.
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