Conservation of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog: Saving North America's Western Grasslands, by Hoogland, J. L. (ed.)

Abstract

J. L. Hoogland (ed.). 2006. Conservation of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog: Saving North America's Western Grasslands.Island Press, Washington, D.C., 350350 pp. ISBN 1-55963-498-7, price (paper), $35. Conservation of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog is a collection of papers written by many authors—including editor John L. Hoogland, who has devoted most of his professional career to the study of prairie dog biology—that aims to provide a summary of all current data concerning 1 of North America's keystone species, the black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ), and the conservation of this species. With 30 contributing authors, this work provides substantial information on C. ludovicianus and also includes a very broad range of discussion stemming from different specializations. Incorporated into the text are many photographs and illustrations that help to support the writing. The main theme, of course, is conservation. Separated into 3 parts, this book serves to inform and offer solutions for the preservation and management of prairie dogs. Part I of the book is an overview of the natural history of prairie dogs, including demography and population dynamics, social structures, and discussion of C. ludovicianus as a keystone species. Hoogland points out that without solid and long-term scientific knowledge of prairie dog biology, we cannot act …