Patterns and underlying mechanisms of non-volant small mammal richness along two contrasting mountain slopes in southwestern China.

ABSTRACT: The species richness patterns of small mammals and the processes shaping them in two gradients of a mountain with different spatial and climatic characteristics were examined using standard sampling scheme. We trapped 2,006 small mammals representing 37 species, along elevational gradients on both western and eastern slopes of the Ailao Mountains, Southwest China. Using mid-domain effect model, model selection and model averaging, we examined the effects of slope, area, mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual humidity (MAH), productivity, plant species richness (PSR) and the mid-domain effect (MDE) on the patterns of small mammal diversity. The hump-shaped patterns were favored along the elevational gradient, but shapes of diversity curves were different on the contrasting slopes. Area

SUBMITTER: Chen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5643442 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature