The role of local versus biogeographical processes in influencing diversity and body-size variation in mammal assemblages.

ABSTRACT: Our objective was to estimate and analyze the body-size distribution parameters of terrestrial mammal assemblages at different spatial scales, and to determine whether these parameters are controlled by local ecological processes or by larger-scale ones. Based on 93 local assemblages, plus the complete mammal assemblage from three continents (Africa, North, and South America), we estimated three key distribution parameters (diversity/size slope, skewness, and modal size) and compared the values to those expected if size distributions are mainly controlled by local interactions. Mammal diversity decreased much faster as body size increased than predicted by fractal niche theory, both at continental and at local scales, with continental distributions showing steeper slopes than the localitie

SUBMITTER: Lopez LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4775520 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature