The Spatial Genetic Variation of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) Populations on the Great Plains of North America: The effects of population control on gene flow and genetic differentiation
Bowser G. 1996. The Spatial Genetic Variation of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) Populations on the Great Plains of North America: The effects of population control on gene flow and genetic differentiation. National Park Service. Saint Louis, MO
"In this paper, I evaluate the spatial genetic differentiation of pdog towns and colonies in Badlands National Park and Buffalo Gap National Grassland in South Dakota. Pdog colonies within Badlands have been uncontrolled since the establishment of the 60,000 acre Sage Creek Wilderness area within the park (244,300 total acreage) in the late 1970's (McDonald et al. 1990). These colonies appeared to grow steadily from 1954 to 1991 based on aerial images of colony boundaries (Bowser 1996a). In constrast, pdogs on the neighboring Buffalo Gap National Grasslands (591,260 acres) were controlled until the late 1980's when areas were set aside as potential black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) reintroduction sites (Uresk and Schenbeck 1987). The extinction and recolonization of pdog colonies can structure genetic patterns by altering gene flow (Slatkin 1987). Within controlled areas (high extinction rates), I would expect towns to have similar genetic compositions (short genetic distances) to their immediate neighbors as gene flow would increase because of the large numbers of empty territories for dispersers to occupy. For the uncontrolled areas (low extinction rates), the physical separation should accurately predict genetic relationships, and genetics diversity should increase with greater distances. By using Wright's (1965) isolation by distance theorems and F-statistics, patterns of dispersal among towns and colonies, controlled or uncontrolled, can be elucidated. The specific study objectives here are to: (1) describe genetic variation for pdog towns and colonies; (2) determine spatial groupings of PD populations; and (3) describe potential relationships of management actions (such as population control) with genetic patterns." (from document Introduction)
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Bowser, Gillian
- Date of Issue
- 1996-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BADL
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Colonies, Genetics, Mammals, Management, Monitoring, Populations, Prairie Dogs, Vertebrates, Wildlife Management