Comparison of niche-packing and community organisation in desert rodents in Asia and North America

G. I. Shenbrot, K. A. Rogovin, E. J. Heske

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)479-499
Number of pages21
JournalAustralian Journal of Zoology
Volume42
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Animal Science and Zoology

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