Response of a Mammalian Faunal Element to Climatic Changes
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چکیده
Faunal elements are groups of species with similar contemporary distributional patterns and may represent an historical association. It is hypothesized that members of a faunal element will respond similarly to environmental conditions. Since the mid-1960s the central plains has experienced cool, mesic (cryomesic) conditions. The distributional limits of members of the Boreal faunal element in this region-Sorex cinereus, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Zapus hudsonius, and Mustela nivalis-expanded southward since onset of cryomesic conditions.
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