Abiotic limitation and the C3 hypothesis: isotopic evidence from Gunnison's prairie dog during persistent drought

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1626
• Publication Date: 2017-01-13T06:44:37Z
• Authors: Charles L. Hayes; William A. Talbot; Blair O. Wolf
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 2. Zero hunger; Ecology; abiotic regulation; drought; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; Gunnison's prairie dog; stable isotope analysis; niche width; QH540-549.5

Abstract Gunnison's prairie dog ( Cynomys gunnisoni ) is an herbivore that ranges from desert grasslands to high‐montane meadows and limited by disease across much of its range. The importance abiotic drivers the population dynamics species poorly known. We employed stable isotope analysis investigate energy assimilation patterns as indicators limitation in arid grassland montane populations C. during a multi‐year drought. Standard ellipse areas plasma red blood cell carbon (δ 13 C) nitrogen 15 N) values, representing population‐level foraging niche widths, declined years seasons drought stress at both study sites. Prairie dogs site, but not maintained seasonal shifts dietary width corresponding periods favorable growth conditions for more nutritious C 3 plants. Production offspring was strongly positively correlated with resource use indicated δ values metabolically active tissues (plasma cells), adipose used long‐term storage, or widths. These findings demonstrate plants associated increased reproductive output importantly constrain base available . link between plant nutritional quality demographic parameters highlights role regulation within this reportedly disease‐limited species.