Abstract
Patterns of species diversity, locomotory morphology, feeding modes, and spatial organisation for rodent communities were compared in four Asian deserts (Kyzylkum, Gobi, Thar, Negev) and one N American (Chihuahuan) desert. Deserts were similar in gamma and alpha diversity. A positive relationship between regional species diversity (and biomass) and mean annual precipitation was found. The Asian deserts showed a greater degree of divergence and specialisation between bipedal and quandrupedal forms. The range of feeding modes was similar in deserts on both continents, but the Negev was the only Asian desert in which granivory was as important as in the Chihuahuan. Temperate Asian desert rodents were organised into spatial guilds. North American desert rodent species overlapped more extensively in habitat use. -from Authors
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 479-499 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Australian Journal of Zoology |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 1994 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Animal Science and Zoology