Growth and life-history changes in Gunnison's prairie dogs after a plague epizootic

I measured rates of growth of individual Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) at three towns in the Moreno Valley, New Mexico; at an established prairie dog town (site I) prior to a plague (Yersinia pestis) epizootic and at two towns reestablished after the epizootic (sites 2 and 3). Populations declined by >99% during rile epizootic. After the epizootic, adults had greater mass, and juveniles grew faster than before. At sites 2 and 3, juveniles had high interyear survival (39%), whereas at site I, prior to plague, survival of juveniles was 17%. At sites 2 and 3, yearlings bred, whereas they did not al site 1. Mean litter size near the end of lactation was 1.5 at site 1 and 5.0 at sites 2 and 3. Application of observed demographic parameters to Leslie-matrix analysis indicated that projected size of population was declining (lambda = 0.829) at site 1 and was tripling annually (lambda = 2.905) at sites 2 and 3. The difference in lambda was mostly due to increased survivorship of juveniles and reproduction at an earlier age in the new towns.