Why the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog is a Keystone Species

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WHY THE BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG IS A KEYSTONE SPECIES

Abstract

This explores the reasons as to why the black-tailed prairie dog is a

Keystone species

Introduction

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus

Black-tailed prairie dogs are usually tan in color . They have a light- colored tummy and a black-tipped tail . The tremendously social animals have an intricate system of communicating by touch , smell as well as sounds . Black-tailed prairie dogs are an image of the grasslands . They are the most

widespread of the five prairie dog species which previously subsisted the entire rocky mountain range , from Mexico to Southern Canada . Although , as human beings claimed more territory within the area , prairie dog habitation got smaller . The species has lost more than about 99 of its historical range and is now found in only 11 U .S states (Feldhamer , G . Et al , 2OO3 ,

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These species were first widespread in short and varied grass prairies all through the Western mid-West comprising : Colorado , Texas , Oklahoma Arizona , Kansas , Montana , Nebraska , New Mexico , South Dakota , Canada Mexico as well as North Dakota and Wyoming . Prairie dogs construct underground communities named prairie dog towns , which might cover up any place from approximately one hundred to a hundred acres Historically , millions of acres in Texas were covered by Black-tailed prairie dog towns . Presently , Prairie dog towns inhabit less than approximately 1 of their momentous range (Collinge , S Ray , C , 2006 br

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Keystone species

Keystone species is a variety whose...