Ecological niche modeling of genetic lineages of the great gerbil, Rhombomys opimus (Rodentia: Gerbillinae).

ABSTRACT: Great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus Lichtenstein, 1823) is distributed in Central Asia and some parts of the Middle East. It is widely found in central and northeast parts of Iran with two distinct genetic lineages: R. o. sodalis in the northern slopes of the Elburz Mountains and R. o. sargadensis in the southern slopes. This large rodent acts as the main host of natural focal diseases. No study has surveyed the ecological niche of the lineages and how their distribution might be influenced by different climatic variables. To examine the distribution patterns of this murid rodent, we aimed to determine the habitat preferences and effects of environmental variables on the ecological niche. Using a species distribution approach for modeling of regional niche specialization, suitable habitats pred

SUBMITTER: Hamidi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8412373 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature