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Selective predation on Utah prairie dogs.

John L Hoogland1, Kristin E Cannon, Lili M DeBarbieri

  • 1Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, USA. hoogland@al.umces.edu

The American Naturalist
|September 28, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Vulnerable Utah prairie dogs (Cynomys parvidens) face high predation risks. Juveniles, edge-dwelling adults, recent immigrants, adult males during mating, and pregnant females are particularly susceptible to red foxes and northern goshawks.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Conservation Science

Background:

  • Predation significantly impacts population dynamics and demography.
  • Documenting predation patterns in natural settings is challenging due to predator behavior.
  • Understanding differential predation susceptibility is crucial for wildlife management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the varied susceptibility of different Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) types to predation.
  • To identify specific individual traits that increase vulnerability to predation by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis).

Main Methods:

  • Observation of a marked colony of Utah prairie dogs.
  • Analysis of predation events over a high-frequency predation period in 2005.
  • Categorization of individuals based on age, location, residency status, sex, and reproductive status.

Main Results:

  • Juvenile prairie dogs were more vulnerable to northern goshawks than adults.
  • Adults at the colony edge were more susceptible to both red foxes and northern goshawks.
  • Recent immigrants, adult males during mating season, and pregnant females exhibited higher predation risk.

Conclusions:

  • Predation risk is not uniform across all individuals within a population.
  • Specific life-history stages and behaviors (e.g., mating, pregnancy, unfamiliarity with territory) increase vulnerability.
  • Conservation strategies may need to consider these differential risks for effective Utah prairie dog management.