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#           An invasive disease, sylvatic plague, increases fragmentation of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies      

      July 23, 2020    

### Context

A disease can be a source of disturbance, causing population declines or extirpations, altering species interactions, and affecting habitat structure. This is particularly relevant for diseases that affect keystone species or ecosystem engineers, leading to potentially cascading effects on ecosystems.

### Objective

We investigated the invasion of a non-native disease, plague, to a keystone species, prairie dogs, and documented the resulting extent of fragmentation and habitat loss in western grasslands. Specifically, we assessed how the arrival of plague in the Conata Basin, South Dakota, United States, affected the size, shape, and aggregation of prairie dog colonies, an animal species known to be highly susceptible to plague.

### Methods

Colonies in the prairie dog complex were mapped every 1 to 3 years from 1993 to 2015. Plague was first confirmed in 2008 and we compared prairie dog complex and colony characteristics before and after the arrival of plague.

### Results

As expected the colony complex and the patches in colonies became smaller and more fragmented after the arrival of plague; the total area of each colony and the mean area per patch within a colony decreased, the number of patches per colony increased, and mean contiguity of each patch decreased, leading to habitat fragmentation.

### Conclusion

We demonstrate how an emerging infectious disease can act as a source of disturbance to natural systems and lead to potentially permanent alteration of habitat characteristics. While perhaps not traditionally thought of as a source of ecosystem disturbances, in recent years emerging infectious diseases have shown to be able to have large effects on ecosystems if they affect keystone species.

## Citation Information

## Related Content

                  -              Data           
                  -              Connect           

July 6, 2020

####                 Plague causes fragmentation of prairie dog colonies in Conata Basin, South Dakota from 1993 - 2015              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

#### Katie Richgels

##### Chief, Ecology and Epidemiology Branch

National Wildlife Health Center

krichgels@usgs.gov

608-270-2450

## Related Content

July 6, 2020

####                 Plague causes fragmentation of prairie dog colonies in Conata Basin, South Dakota from 1993 - 2015              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

#### Katie Richgels

##### Chief, Ecology and Epidemiology Branch

National Wildlife Health Center

krichgels@usgs.gov

608-270-2450

### Study Area

### Contact

####               National Wildlife Health Center          

6006 Schroeder RoadMadison, WI53711-6223United States

asknwhc@usgs.gov

608-270-2400

608-270-2415

### Explore Search

                  - Terrestrial Wildlife Diseases
                  - Wildlife Disease and One Health
                  - Fish and Wildlife Disease
                  - Biology
                  - Ecosystems
                  - United States
                  - buffalo gap national grassland
                  -  Conata Basin
                  - Black-tailed prairie dog
                  - sylvatic plague
                  - South Dakota

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