Effects of black-tailed prairie dogs on reptiles and amphibians in Kansas shortgrass prairie

Species diversity and abundance of reptiles and amphibians were measured on and off black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies to determ ine the extent to which herpetological species composition in a shortgrass prairie ecosystem is affected by presence of black-tailed prairie dog colon ies. Ten species of reptiles and 3 species of amphibians were captured. Tot al amphibian and reptile abundance did not differ between prairie dog colon ies and noncolonized shortgrass prairie sites, but species composition did. Mean species richness, evenness, and diversity for reptiles and amphibians were not different between treatments; however, diversity of both treatmen ts combined was considerably higher than diversity on shortgrass prairie wi thout prairie dogs. The mosaic pattern of prairie dog colonies enhances lan dscape heterogeneity and contributes to greater reptile and amphibian diver sity in the shortgrass prairie biome of western Kansas.