Community Structure in Sympatric Rodents

摘要: Species diversity, microhabitat separation, shifts and body size patterns are examined in seven sympatric rodent species. Habitat separation seasonal identified by multiple-group discriminant analysis on variables repre- senting shrub structure substrate patchiness. The rodents form two functional groups. Four permanent, year-round residents (Pero- mnyscus eremicus, Neotoma lepida, fuscipes, Dipodomys agilis) show significant habitat some temporal shifts. Three (Peromyscus maniculatus, Peromyscus californicus, Reithrodontomys megalotis) no have a greater frequency of overlap with one another permanent residents. There is relationship between niche breadth population density for any given species; however, as group, reduced increased popula- tion density. significance this pattern discussed respect to ecological opportunism differences within the fauna light structure. Pairwise positively correlated. data that more different from structural than pairs which at least species resident. Increased similarity may not favor coexistence most similar-sized pair congeneric deer mice (P. eremnicus P. inaniculatus), addition they dif- ference