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Mediterranean v . continental small mammal communities and the environmental degradation of the Dinaric Alps
Author(s) -
Kryštufek Boris,
Griffiths Huw I.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1365-2699
pISSN - 0305-0270
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2699.1999.00263.x
Subject(s) - species richness , fauna , generalist and specialist species , ecology , mammal , context (archaeology) , fossorial , geography , habitat , biology , archaeology
Summary In order to test for the existence of distinct, regionally‐based small mammal faunas, distributional patterns were examined in thirty one species of small mammals (insectivores and rodents) inhabiting the Dinaric Alps (western Balkans). The small mammal fauna was found to consist of three groups: a group of ‘generalist’ species that occurred throughout the study area, plus distinct coastal and continental small mammal assemblages. The continental small mammal assemblage is considerably more species‐rich, whilst that of the coastal zone is largely restricted to generalists and species with geophilic or fossorial life‐styles (many of which are also commensal with humans). The two assemblages appear to be associated with different vegetation types, and the transition between them lies on the coastal slopes of the Dinaric Alps at c . 700–900 m of altitude. We discuss possible determinants of assemblage composition and species richness, and particularly the possible role of prehistoric environmental degradation in the context of the reduced species‐richness of the coastal zone.