Expansion of a 6-year old prairie dog colony to a previously uncolonized site resulted in loss of perennial grasses and their replacement by annual forbs within 3 years. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), needleandthread grass (Stipa comata), and green needlegrass (S. viridula) decreased most rapidly, followed by western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii) and sun sedge (Carex heliophila). In contrast,buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) persisted in the oldest part of the colony. During the first two years, bare ground increased by a factor of 3, but then stabilized at 35%, as a result of increased forb cover.
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