In our Ecology and Human Impact class tonight, Artie Kopelman mentioned prairie dogs as a keystone species. I wanted to find out how they function as keystone critters, and started researching, but was utterly distracted and astonished to find this VIDEO that shows behavioral studies indicating that they have very complex language that helps them to alert one another to very specific predators and scenarios.
According to Constantine Slobodchikoff and his team of researchers, it seems they even have something to say about human physical attributes and color of clothing.
Prairie dogs need these sounds as parts of their defense strategies as they are breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a number of predators including fox, eagle, badger, ferret, and hawk species. This is part of what makes them keystone species. In addition their burrows and towns provide nesting habitats for birds such as the burrowing owl. (An owl that lives underground?)
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| Photo:Milojacks |
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| Oh, and they kiss too. |
Fascinating! I especially love the Jump-Yip in "no obvious context"!
ReplyDeleteThe kiss is quite something too.
Thanks for researching for us on these great little guys!