Replication Data for: Fig 26.2 (Bottom), GUW, Estimates of vigilance from scan samples, 31 July 2026

Then, for each prairie dog, we computed a single estimate of vigilance from daily estimates over the entire field season for that individual. If a prairie dog was detected in 10 scan-samples in a day, and was vigilant for 3 of those scans, then its mean vigilance for the day was 30%. See Chapter 7 for more details.

From those daily estimates, I then calculated a single mean estimate per individual for the entire field season. These data used for Fig 26.2 (Bottom) in Hoogland 2026. This file ready for longterm storage on 30 April 2025.

The number above each bar indicates the number of prairie dogs for which we calculated a single estimate of vigilance from all the scan samples over the entire field season. GPD data for scan samples are all from Redondo Meadow Colony of Valles Caldera National Preserve (Hirschler et al. 2016, Animal Behaviour). WTPD data from scan samples are from my single study-colony at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.

We used the same methods for WTPDs that we used for GPDs. Data for UPD scan samples are from the Prairie Dog Squad and from the following reference: Manno TG. 2007. Why are Utah prairie dogs vigilant?

J. Mammal. 88:555-563. These data checked one time only on 30 April 2025. Because data are from different researchers with different methods, I have not performed statistical analyses regarding the possibility of statistical significance of the interspecific differences in vigilance shown here for scan samples.

For 101 GPDs, we calculated a total of 6151 daily mean estimates of vigilance from scan samples. From these daily means of scan samples, we calculated a single overall mean + SD score of vigilance for each GPD for the entire field season. We only calculated a single overall mean for GPDs for which we recorded daily scan samples for >= 27 days.

For more details, see Hirschler et al. 2016. The number above each standard error (SEM) line indicates the number of individuals for which scan samples were available (with one mean estimate per individual per day). These estimates of vigilance from focal samples do not support the hypothesis that WTPDs should have the highest levels of vigilance, because they live in smaller, less dense colonies than individuals of the other three species.

File name: Fig 26.2 (Bottom), GUW, Estimates of vigilance from scan samples, 31 July 2026