Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Estimated Areal Extent of Colonies of Black-tailed
Prairie Dogs in the Northern Great Plains
John G. Sidle, Douglas H. Johnson, and Betty R. Euliss
Abstract: During 1997-1998, we undertook an aerial survey, with
an aerial line-intercept technique, to estimate the extent of colonies of black-tailed
prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in the northern Great Plains states
of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. We stratified the survey
based on knowledge of colony locations, computed 2 types of estimates for each
stratum, and combined ratio estimates for high-density strata with average density
estimates for low-density strata. Estimates of colony areas for black-tailed
prairie dogs were derived from the average percentages of lines intercepting
prairie dog colonies and ratio estimators. We selected the best estimator based
on the correlation between length of transect line and length of intercepted
colonies. Active colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs occupied 2,377.8 km²
± 186.4 SE, whereas inactive colonies occupied 560.4 ± 89.2 km².
These data represent the 1st quantitative assessment of prairie-dog colonies
in the northern Great Plains. The survey dispels popular notions that millions
of square kilometers of colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs exist in the northern
Great Plains and can form the basis for future survey efforts.
Key words: aerial survey, black-tailed prairie dog, colony
abundance, Cynomys ludovicianus, Nebraska, North Dakota, northern Great
Plains, South Dakota, Wyoming
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
1163):
Sidle, John G., Douglas H. Johnson, and Betty R. Euliss. 2001.
Estimated areal extent of colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs in
the northern Great Plains. Journal of Mammalogy 82(4):928-936.
This resource should be cited as:
Sidle, John G., Douglas H. Johnson, and Betty R. Euliss. 2001.
Estimated areal extent of colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs in
the northern Great Plains. Journal of Mammalogy 82(4):928-936.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2002/pdogcol/index.htm
(Version 25JUL2002).
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures
- Table 1 -- Estimates of coverage for
active and inactive colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs.
- Table 2 -- Pearson correlation coefficients
between length of line flown and line length that intercepts colonies.
- Figure 1 -- Range of the black-tailed
prairie dog and the region surveyed by aircraft to estimate areal coverage.
John G. Sidle, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Great Plains National Grasslands, 125 North Main Street, Chadron, NE
69337
Correspondent: jsidle@fs.fed.us
Douglas H. Johnson and Betty R. Euliss, United States
Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 37th Street
SE, Jamestown, ND 58401
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( 64K) -- Estimated Areal Extent of Colonies of Black-tailed Prairie
Dogs in the Northern Great Plains
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