Assembly rules for functional groups of North American shrews: effects of geographic range and habitat partitioning

摘要: We examined the representation of shrew species within assemblages at 197 sites in southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. Assemblages were classified according to functional groups, including fossorial, small epigeal, and large epigeal. Average (9 /SD) richness was 2.99 /1.0 averaged 0.8 fossorial epigeal groups 1.3 group. Compliance with Fox’s assembly rule evaluated by dividing into those likely under (favored) unlikely rule. The number favored compared expected numbers three null models community development, which variously incorporated observed characteristics regional pool. Number (175 [89%]) exceeded found each 25,000 sets simulated (PB/0.00004) using algorithms that site incidences species. However, did not differ (P� /0.1054) from when patterns allopatry sympatry preserved model. Thus, tendency for equitable primarily due pattern among similar species, we believe striking compliance these is largely structure pool, rather than extant competitive interactions.