KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Ecological Gradients in Diversity and Abundance: A Search for Patterns and Processes in Small Mammal Communities

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    McCain_2003.pdf (22.54Mb)
    Issue Date
    2003
    Author
    McCain, Christy M.
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    167
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    Ph.D.
    Discipline
    Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    Rights
    This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is: what are the patterns of diversity and the mechanisms that produce them? Many biological theories have been proposed to explain latitudinal and elevational diversity gradients, but no accepted, general explanation for the distribution of biodiversity has surfaced. Two necessities for establishing a general diversity theory are utilizing more rigorous statistical methods to test hypotheses, and including more comparative analyses. With these aims in mind, I examine the predictability of null models and biological diversity hypotheses for latitudinal and elevational gradients in diversity and abundance of small mammals. The unimodal distribution of diversity in North American desert rodents was highly consistent with the mid-domain effect—a spatial constraint null model incorporating the overlap of variably sized ranges within a bounded region. Deviations from the null model demonstrated a localized pulse in richness caused by a local hard boundary, the Baja peninsula. The small mammal diversity along an elevational transect in Costa Rica was unimodal with species richness highest between 1000-1300 m. The spatial constraints of montane topography appear to influence the diversity pattern, although climatic conditions including an intermediate rainfall and temperature regime, and distance from the persistent cloud cap also are correlated with the pattern. The global analysis of elevational diversity trends for non-volant small mammals revealed a ubiquitous pattern of mid-elevational peaks in species richness. The mid-domain null model was not generally predictive across all datasets. Diversity peaks occurred at higher elevations on taller mountains (Massenerhebung effect), which is consistent with climatic factors working in concert to produce elevationally correlated habitat bands. Gamma diversity patterns demonstrated higher altitudinal peaks in species diversity as latitude increased. An examination of replicates in alpha diversity studies along elevational transects found high variability both temporally and spatially, emphasizing the necessity of replication in well-designed studies of diversity gradients. In an examination of range size-abundance trends no strong relationship was found between abundance or body size with elevational range size. Local and regional abundances across elevational ranges generally revealed a trend toward higher abundances at mid-range, although usually not centered at the range midpoint.
    Description
    The University of Kansas has long historical connections with Central America and the many Central Americans who have earned graduate degrees at KU. This work is part of the Central American Theses and Dissertations collection in KU ScholarWorks and is being made freely available with permission of the author through the efforts of Professor Emeritus Charles Stansifer of the History department and the staff of the Scholarly Communications program at the University of Kansas Libraries’ Center for Digital Scholarship.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/7887
    Collections
    • Central American Theses and Dissertations [54]
    • Dissertations [4475]
    • Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Dissertations and Theses [349]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps