Species diversity of nocturnal rodents in disturbed desert-grassland habitats

TitleSpecies diversity of nocturnal rodents in disturbed desert-grassland habitats
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1978
AuthorsAlberico M.S
Number of Pages80
Date Published1978
UniversityNew Mexico State University
CityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis TypePh.D. Dissertationpp
Call Number00624
Keywordscommunity, rodent, dissertation, dissertations, disturbance, rodent, grassland, disturbed habitats, rodent, disturbed habitats, rodent, nocturnal, rodent, species diversity, species diversity,rodents, theses, thesis
AbstractNocturnal rodent communities were sampled by live-trapping seasonally on seven sites on sandy soils on the USDA Jornada Experimental Range, Dona Ana County, New Mexico during 1975 and 1976. An attempt was made to contrast three current hypotheses concerning those factors which determine species diversity of small mammals. According to these, diversity should be higher in habitats which have 1) greater amounts of predictable precipitation and resources, 2) greater structural complexity, or 3) more mature successful status (i.e., less disturbed)... It was predicted that climax grassland habitats would support greater rodent species diversity than dis-climax shrublands. This was generally true, but substantial temporal variations in diversity weakened tests for statistical significance.