Blue Grama and Buffalograss Patterns in and Near a Prairie Dog Town

Abstract

Blue grama and buffalograss patterns differed in response to prairie dog mound building activities. While both species exhibited smaller pattern sizes within prairie dog towns compared to outside, but adjacent areas, the size of clumps and patches differed for the two species. Prairie dog activities caused a two-fold decrease in pattern size of blue grama by reducing size of clumps and patches. On the other hand, buffalograss patches were fragmented into small clumps which were not observed outside the town.