Elevation patterns in rodent diversity in the Dry Andes: disentangling the role of environmental factors.

AGUSTINA NOVILLO; RICARDO ALBERTO OJEDA

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2014

0022-2372

Biodiversity patterns are the result of the interaction of numerous contemporary factors and historical opportunities for allopatric speciation. Several hypotheses regarding climatic features and topographic characteristics have been reported as determinants of species richness along elevation gradients. However, how these factors interact to shape small mammal richness along the Mountains ecosystem is not well understood. The objectives of this paper were to: 1) analyze patterns of species diversity along the central Dry Andes; and 2) evaluate how climatic and topographic factors explain diversity patterns. Our results showed a positive and monotonic relationship between small mammal richness and altitude, while abundance patterns showed a mid elevation peak. Climate and topography were the most important predictor variables explaining small mammal richness and abundance patterns in the Andes Mountains. This study underlines the role of the Andes in promoting and sustaining biodiversity, as well as the need to encourage conservation planning in mountain ecosystems.