During diurnal June and August measurements, the water potential of mixed grass prairie species, in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, did not differ between a site colonized by black-tailed prairie dogs for 10 years and an uncolonized site, grazed lightly by free-roaming wildlife. In contrast, fringed sagewort (Artemisia frigida) had slightly higher water potential on the colonized site during periods of moderate or high water stress. Archer and Detling suggest that 30% greater than average growing season rainfall may have affected results; soil moisture was similar on both sites, and a variety of factors affect plant water status in grazing systems.
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