Gunnison's Prairie Dog Restoration Experiment (GPDREx): Vegetation Cover Data from the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are burrowing rodents considered to be ecosystem engineers and keystone species of the central grasslands of North America. Yet, prairie dog populations have declined by an estimated 98% throughout their historic range. This dramatic decline has resulted in the widespread loss of their important ecological role throughout this grassland system. The 92,060 ha Sevilleta NWR in central New Mexico includes more than 54,000 ha of native grassland. Gunnison’s prairie dogs (C. gunnisoni) were reported to occupy ~15,000 ha of what is now the SNWR during the 1960’s, prior to their systematic eradication. In 2010, we collaborated with local agencies and conservation organizations to restore the functional role of prairie dogs to the grassland system. Gunnison’s prairie dogs were reintroduced to a site that was occupied by prairie dogs 40 years ago.  This work is part of a larger, long-term study where we are studying the ecological effects of prairie dogs as they re-colonize the grassland ecosystem.

草原犬鼠（Cynomys spp.）为穴居啮齿类动物，被视作北美中部草原的生态系统工程师与关键物种。然而，在其历史分布范围内，草原犬鼠种群数量据估算已下降98%。这一急剧衰退导致该草原生态系统中其重要生态功能的广泛丧失。位于新墨西哥州中部的塞维利特国家野生动物保护区（Sevilleta NWR）总面积达92060公顷，其中原生草原面积超过54000公顷。据记载，1960年代，冈氏草原犬鼠（C. gunnisoni）曾占据该保护区约15000公顷的区域，随后该种群遭到系统性灭杀。2010年，本研究团队联合当地机构与保护组织开展工作，旨在恢复草原犬鼠在该草原生态系统中的功能生态角色。研究人员将冈氏草原犬鼠重新引入至40年前曾有草原犬鼠栖息的区域。此项工作属于一项大型长期研究的组成部分，该研究旨在探究草原犬鼠重新定居草原生态系统所产生的生态效应。