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Plant-herbivore interactions in a North American mixed-grass prairie

I. Effects of black-tailed prairie dogs on intraseasonal aboveground plant biomass and nutrient dynamics and plant species diversity

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Summary

Research was conducted to determine the effects of a native, sedentary rodent of North American grasslands, the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), on seasonal aboveground plant biomass and nutrient dynamics and plant species diversity. The study was done on a northern mixed-grass prairie site at wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

Peak live plant biomass was greatest (190 g/m2) on the uncolonized part of the study area and least (95 g/m2) on a part of the prairie dog town colonized for 3 to 8 y. Peak live plant biomass (170 g/m2) of the oldest portion of the prairie dog town (colonized >26 y) was not significantly different from that of uncolonized prairie. However, where-as graminoids composed >85% of the total biomass of the latter area, forbs and dwarf shrubs (Artemisia frigida) were >95% of the total of the former. Both standing-dead plant biomass and litter declined markedly as time since colonization increased. Total plant species diversity (H) was greatest in the young prairie dog town (colonized for 3 to 8 y).

Nitrogen concentration of plant shoots varied significantly as a function of time since colonization. Shoot-nitrogen was lowest in plants from the uncolonized site and greatest in plants collected from the longest-colonized areas of the prairie dog town. Shoot-nitrogen declined significantly over the growing season and tended to be higher in C3 graminoids than in C4 graminoids. In vitro digestible dry matter showed similar trends; the differences between C3 and C4 digestibilities were greatest during the last half of the growing season.

We suggest that prairie dog-induced changes in plant biomass, plant species diversity, plant nutrient content, and forage digestibility may lead to further alterations of nutrient cycling and trophic dynamics in this mixed-grass prairie ecosystem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    D. L. Coppock, J. K. Detling & J. E. Ellis

  2. Environmental Resources Section, Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, 37830, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    M. I. Dyer

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  1. D. L. Coppock
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  2. J. K. Detling
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  3. J. E. Ellis
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  4. M. I. Dyer
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Coppock, D.L., Detling, J.K., Ellis, J.E. et al. Plant-herbivore interactions in a North American mixed-grass prairie. Oecologia 56, 1–9 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378210

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