Evidence of environmental niche differentiation in the striped mouse (Rhabdomys sp.): inference from its current distribution in southern Africa

摘要: The aim of this study was to characterize environmental differentiation lineages within Rhabdomys and provide hypotheses regarding potential areas contact between them in the Southern African subregion, including Republic South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia. Records taxa across region were compiled georeferenced from literature, museum records, field expeditions. Presence records summarized a 10 × km grid covering area. Environmental information climate, topography, land use, vegetation productivity gathered at same resolution. Multivariate statistics used current niche distribution whole genus as well three mitochondrial known occur southern Africa. Distribution modeling carried out using MAXENT order generate each their zones. Results indicate that two species appear have differentiated precipitation/temperature gradient present east west. R. dilectus occupies wettest eastern while pumilio warmer drier regions west, but also penetrates more mesic central part region. We further evidence dilectus. Contact zones strong gradients topographic complexity, such transition major biomes escarpment area where sharp altitudinal separates coastal plateau areas, homogeneous grassland savannah biomes. Our results may be specialized than previously thought when considering knowledge lineages. appears along axes region, suggest dispersal limitations biological interactions having role limiting boundaries. Furthermore, projection geographic different suggests several interesting fields for understanding interplay ecological evolutionary processes during speciation.