Effects of Pleistocene environmental changes on the distribution and community structure of the mammalian fauna of Mexico

摘要: article i nfo Biological communities in Mexico experienced profound changes species composition and structure as a consequence of the environmental fluctuations during Pleistocene. Based on recent fossil Mexican mammal checklists, we determine distribution, composition, diversity, community late Pleistocene mammalian faunas, analyze extinction patterns response individual to changes. We conclude that (1) differential extinctions occurred at family, genus, level, with major impact heavier than 100 kg, including all proboscideans several ruminants; (2) were more diverse ones; (3) current assemblages are relatively young. Furthermore, relicts support presence biogeographic corridors; important refugia existed well centers speciation isolated regions. identified seven corridors: eastern USA-Sierra Madre Oriental corridor, Rocky Mountains-Sierra Occidental Central United States-Northern Transvolcanic Belt-Sierra del Sur western USA-Baja California Tamaulipas-Central America gulf lowlands Sonora-Central Pacific corridor. Our study suggests present very different ones