Seasonal Change of Species Diversity Patterns of Non‐volant Small Mammals along Three Subtropical Elevational Gradients |
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Authors: | Yuanbao Du Lin Xia Deyan Ge Qisen Yang Limin Chen |
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Institution: | 1. Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, , Beijing, 100101 China;2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, , Beijing, 100049 China;3. Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, , Qingchuan, 628109 China |
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Abstract: | Our understanding of geographic patterns of species diversity and the underlying mechanisms is increasing rapidly, whereas the temporal variation in these patterns remains poorly understood. We examined the seasonal species richness and species turnover patterns of non‐volant small mammals along three subtropical elevational gradients in southwest China. Small mammal diversity was surveyed in two seasons (early wet season and late wet season) using a standardized sampling protocol. The comparison of species richness patterns between two seasons indicated a temporal component in magnitude and shape, with species richness at high elevations clearly increased during the late wet season. Species richness demonstrated weak correlations with modelled temperature and precipitation. The elevational pattern of species turnover measured by Chao‐Sørenson similarity index also changed seasonally, even though the temporal pattern varied with scale. Species turnover between neighboring elevations at high elevations was slower in the late wet season. Meanwhile, there was an acceleration of species turnover along the whole range of the gradient. The seasonal change in species diversity patterns may be due to population‐level increases in abundance and elevational migration, whereas seasonal variation in factors other than temperature and precipitation may play a greater role in driving seasonal diversity patterns. Our study strongly supports the seasonality in elevational patterns of small mammal diversity in subtropical montane forests. Thus it is recommended that subsequent field surveys consider temporal sampling replicate for elevational diversity studies. |
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Keywords: | China elevation Hengduan Mountains seasonality species richness species turnover subtropical montane forest |
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