Biogeographic Relationships of Pocket Gophers in Southeastern Colorado

Moulton, Michael P.; Choate, Jerry R.; Bissell, Steven J.

doi:10.2307/3670592

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The current distribution is the result of competing thermal needs of the species and the current temperature regiment enforced by the karyotypic differences of the species. This hypothesis seems plausible because ecotonal changes, which are maintained by the climate, appear to be a strong limiting factor in species distributions at contact zones (Smith 1965;Moulton et al 1983;Bull 1991;Frey 1992;Harrison 1993;Searle 1993;Shaw et al 1993;Hewitt 2000Hewitt , 2001. However, we know of no environmental barriers associated with the contact zone of Blarina in our study area, as was reported in Nebraska (Benedict 1999b).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 40%

“…This definition allows for gene flow between the groups but only at the limit of each species' geographic range, which can lead to a narrow band of hybridization or hybrid zone (Mallet 2005). Thereby, the distributional relationship was determined to be parapatric if the ranges of the species abutted but did not overlap (Futuyma and Mayer 1980;Key 1981;Moulton et al 1983;Bull 1991;Mallet 2005). The distributional relationship was determined to be sympatric if the ranges significantly overlapped.…”

Section: Relationship In Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification and characterization of the contact zone between short-tailed shrews (Blarina) in Iowa and Missouri

et al. 2011

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Short-tailed shrews (genus Blarina Gray, 1838) are characterized by divergent karyotypes and are genetically distinct. Blarina species are similar morphologically but, in most cases, can be distinguished morphometrically. Blarina distributions tend to be parapatric along well-defined contact zones; however, it has been suggested that the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda (Say, 1823)) and Elliot's short-tailed shrew (Blarina hylophaga Elliot, 1899) occur sympatrically in Iowa and Missouri. To evaluate this possibility, 179 specimens were collected in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. Karyotypes and total length were used for field identification, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to verify field identifications and to investigate the extent of hybridization. One hundred seventyeight of 179 specimens were identified to species. The one exception had a karyotype of B. brevicauda (2n = 50, FN = 48); however, AFLP analysis indicated that this individual was likely an F1 hybrid. No backcrosses were detected, so it appears that introgression is minimal. The putative hybrid was trapped at a locality with B. brevicauda just north of a locality having only B. hylophaga. No locality contained both species. Therefore, these species are not broadly sympatric as has been suggested, but rather exhibit a distribution similar to the pattern of parapatry seen in most of the contact zones of Blarina.Résumé : Les musaraignes à queue courte (du genre Blarina Gray, 1838) se caractérisent par des caryotypes divergents et sont génétiquement distinctes. Les espèces de Blarina sont semblables morphologiquement, mais dans la plupart des cas, la morphométrie permet de les distinguer. Les répartitions des Blarina ont tendance à être parapatriques le long de zones de contact bien définies; on croit néanmoins que la grande musaraigne à queue courte (Blarina brevicauda (Say, 1823)) et la musaraigne à queue courte d'Elliot (Blarina hylophaga Elliot, 1899) se retrouvent en sympatrie en Iowa et au Missouri. Afin de vérifier cette possibilité, nous avons récolté 179 spécimens dans le sud-ouest de l'Iowa et le nord-ouest du Missouri. Les caryotypes et la longueur totale nous ont servi pour les identifications de terrain et une analyse du polymorphisme des longueurs des segments amplifiés (AFLP) a permis de confirmer les identifications de terrain et de déterminer l'importance de l'hybridation. Des 179 spécimens, 178 ont été identifiés à l'espèce. La seule exception avait un caryotype de B. brevicauda (2n = 50, FN = 48); cependant l'analyse de ALFP indique que cet individu est vraisemblablement un hybride de F1. Comme il n'y a aucune indication de rétrocroisement, l'introgression semble minimale. L'hybride putatif a été piégé dans une localité contenant B. brevicauda située juste au nord d'une localité où vit seulement B. hylophaga. Aucune localité ne contient les deux espèces. Les deux espèces ne possèdent donc pas une importante zone de sympatrie, comme on le croyait; ils ont plu...

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 40%

Section: Relationship In Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and characterization of the contact zone between short-tailed shrews (Blarina) in Iowa and Missouri

et al. 2011

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“…High clay and silt content as well as soil moisture may be important variables to pocket gopher occupancy because these factors reduce the aeration of the soil and gas exchange with the external environment (Moulton et al, 1983). Our findings reveal that Ozark pocket gophers tend to be more prevalent in loamy sand soils.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Distribution and Habitat Attributes of an Endemic Subspecies of Pocket Gopher

Connior

Kershen

Medlin

et al. 2010

The American Midland Naturalist

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Morphological Adaptations for Digging and Climate-Impacted Soil Properties Define Pocket Gopher (Thomomys spp.) Distributions

et al. 2013

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Species ranges are mediated by physiology, environmental factors, and competition with other organisms. The allopatric distribution of five species of northern Californian pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) is hypothesized to result from competitive exclusion. The five species in this environmentally heterogeneous region separate into two subgenera, Thomomys or Megascapheus, which have divergent digging styles. While all pocket gophers dig with their claws, the tooth-digging adaptations of subgenus Megascapheus allow access to harder soils and climate-protected depths. In a Northern Californian locality, replacement of subgenus Thomomys with subgenus Megascapheus occurred gradually during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Concurrent climate change over this transition suggests that environmental factors – in addition to soil – define pocket gopher distributional limits. Here we show 1) that all pocket gophers occupy the subset of less energetically costly soils and 2) that subgenera sort by percent soil clay, bulk density, and shrink-swell capacity (a mineralogical attribute). While clay and bulk density (without major perturbations) stay constant over decades to millennia, low precipitation and high temperatures can cause shrink-swell clays to crack and harden within days. The strong yet underappreciated interaction between soil and moisture on the distribution of vertebrates is rarely considered when projecting species responses to climatic change. Furthermore, increased precipitation alters the weathering processes that create shrink-swell minerals. Two projected outcomes of ongoing climate change—higher temperatures and precipitation—will dramatically impact hardness of soil with shrink-swell minerals. Current climate models do not include factors controlling soil hardness, despite its impact on all organisms that depend on a stable soil structure.

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Biogeographic Relationships of Pocket Gophers in Southeastern Colorado

Cited by 12 publications

References 16 publications

Identification and characterization of the contact zone between short-tailed shrews (Blarina) in Iowa and Missouri

Identification and characterization of the contact zone between short-tailed shrews (Blarina) in Iowa and Missouri

Distribution and Habitat Attributes of an Endemic Subspecies of Pocket Gopher

Morphological Adaptations for Digging and Climate-Impacted Soil Properties Define Pocket Gopher (Thomomys spp.) Distributions

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