From the time they initially colonize new areas, prairie dogs disturb grasslands by burrowing and grazing, thereby creating large patches of altered vegetation in the landscape. In this South Dakota study, Whicker traverses a number of temporal and spatial scales in discussing prairie dog disturbance in grasslands. Some processes, such as net primary production, occur during the growing season; others, such as ecotypic differentiation or species replacement occur over years. Different plant communities can occupy areas of less than a hectare. However, large ungulates, like bison, will range over thousands of hectares, and may move nutrients or plant propagules from one patch to another. Eventually linking scales of resolution will be critical to understanding how the entire system functions and responds to disturbance.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.