Many species of birds are believed to be associated with or dependent upon prairie dogs for their continued survival. However, these associations are based on only a few studies that mostly documented species observed on colonies.
Few data exist that compare avian abundance on prairie dog colonies to adjacent undisturbed habitat.
Our study describes the patterns of difference in relative density and abundance of nesting birds and vegetation observed on and off prairie dog colonies across the Great Plains. Montana Our results confirm that prairie dogs modify vegetation structure and plant species composition on a wide variety of grassland and shrub habitats throughout the Great Plains. Related MESC Projects Prairie dogs as keystone species in prairie ecosystems .