Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 4 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 5 http://www.research.yerkes.emory.edu/Young/volegenome.html White paper proposal for sequencing the genome of the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) Submitted by Lisa A. McGraw, Jam...

To test the hypothesis that eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) is allelopathic, seedling establishment of five herbaceous prairie species was evaluated by growing seeds in soil collected beneath and adjacent to a stand ofthis tree species. While four species showed no significant effect, the gennination of one species, finger coreopsis (Coreopsis pa/mata Nutt.), was significantly reduc...

Coal extraction has been occurring in the Midwestern United States for over a century. Despite the pre-mining history of the landscape as woodlands, spent surface coalfields are often reclaimed to grasslands. We assessed amphibian and reptile species on a large tract of coal spoil prairie and found 13 species of amphibians (nine frog and four salamander species) and 19 species of reptiles (one ...

Field trials were conducted to test the effectiveness of a gas exploding device called “Rodentorch” in reducing pest populations of ground squirrels and prairie dogs. Ignition of a propane/oxygen mixture injected for 30 seconds into burrows reduced prairie dog activity 13.0%. Doubling the injection time in prairie dog burrows to 60 seconds resulted in a 63.3% reduction. Reduction in ground squi...

Social Behavior of Captive Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Mammalia, Rodentia) with Changing Numbers of Observers. Eltorai A. E. M., Sussman R. W. – Black-tailed prairie dogs Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord, 1815) are diurnal rodents that live in intricate cities. Their social complexity rivals that of some primates, and, in some respects, resembles the behavior of humans. Due to the rich variety of readi...

A new genus of sciurid, Cynomyoides, is named. The new genus includes a new species from the late Clarendonian of Nebraska, C. vatis (type species), and an unnamed species from the early Barstovian of Montana. The dental and mandibular morphology of Cynomyoides is reminiscent of that of the latest Tertiary to Recent prairie dog Cynomys and is believed to be part of the lineage leading to Cynomy...

Habitat fragmentation and urbanization not only cause extirpation of species, but also alter the behaviour of species in human modified areas. We evaluated behavioural characteristics of the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), a keystone species, in the urban landscape of Denver, CO, USA. Specifically, we investigated the proportion of vigilance, foraging, and social behaviour with...

Tallgrass prairie is disappearing because farming and development have replaced it. This ecosystem home to a unique group of plants, animals, microbial life. The processes fire, grazing by drought are important the tallgrass prairie. They can influence each other For example, pyric-herbivory interaction fire on landscape. Burned areas attract herbivores (plant eaters) like magnet. After fires, ...

Parents determine habitat selection for precocial young by leading their young to foraging areas until the chicks attain full independence. There are potential benefits and costs to reproductive success associated with changing habitats while caring for young. This study investigated the relationship between different types of habitats and their quality on chick survival and brood movements of ...