For our new paper published in Ecology and Evolution we studied the effect caused by the disturbance of the endemic prairie dog Cynomys mexicanus (in the picture) on plant functional and taxonomical diversity. The species in endangered and is considered to be a grassland ecosystem engineer due to their grazing and burrowing activities (you can find out more about Cynomys mexicanus here).
Contrary to farmer’s assumptions that prairie dogs degrade grassland vegetation and compete with livestock, we found that prairie dog disturbance had only a minor negative effect on vegetation cover, and that this effect was offset during the wet season. Furthermore, we provide evidence that environmental conditions play a stronger filtering effect on the vegetation of this short-grass, water-restricted grassland ecosystem. Therefore, we think it is likely that plant responses will be negatively affected under future climate change scenarios and more attention on this effects will be critical.
Find out more here.
