Elevational gradients of small mammal diversity on the northern slopes of Mt. Qilian, China

Abstract

Aim Small mammal species richness and relative abundance vary along elevational gradients, but there are different patterns that exist. This study reports the patterns of distribution and abundance of small mammals along the broader elevational gradient of Mt. Qilian range. Location The study was conducted in the Mt. Qilian range, north‐western China, from June to August 2001. Methods Removal trapping was conducted using a standardized technique at 7 sites ranging between 1600 and 3900 m elevation within three transects. Correlation, regression and graphical analyses were used to evaluate the diversity patterns along this elevational gradient. Results In total, 586 individuals representing 18 nonvolant small mammal species were collected during 20 160 trap nights. Species composition was different among the three transects with 6 (33%) of the species found only within one transect. Elevational distribution and relative abundance of small rodents showed substantial spatial variation, with only 2 species showing nonsignificant capture frequencies across elevations. Despite these variations, some general patterns of elevational distribution emerged: humped‐shape relationships between species diversity and elevation were noted in all three transects with diversity peaks at middle elevations. In addition, relative abundance was negatively correlated with elevation. Conclusions Results indicate that maximum richness and diversity of nonvolant small mammals occurred at mid‐elevations where several types of plants reached their maximum diversity and primary productivity, and where rainfall and humidity reached a maximum. It is demonstrated that the mid‐elevation bulge is a general feature of at least a large portion of the biota on the Mt. Qilian range.

Elevational patterns of frog species richness and endemic richness in the Hengduan Mountains, China: geometric constraints, area and climate effects

“…Other studies from the adjacent regions of the Hengduan Mountains, plant diversity in the Nepal Himalaya and the Indian Western Himalaya, and small mammal diversity in the Mt. Qilian also reported similar elevational diversity patterns (Grytnes and Vetaas 2002, Li et al 2003, Bhattarai et al 2004, Oommen and Shanker 2005). More studies on local and region diversity of amphibians and reptiles are needed to make generalizations on elevational richness patterns of these groups at global scale.…”

The importance of macrolichen traits and phylogeny in forest community assemblage along a high elevation gradient in southwestern British Columbia

“…This intermediate elevation peak has been shown in studies of small mammals in the Philippines (Mena and Vázquez-Domínguez, 2005), Malaysia (Md. Nor, 2001), Mexico (Sánchez-Cordero, 2001 China (Li et al, 2003), Utah and Nevada (Rickart, 2001). The pattern has also been repeated for butterflies (Lees et al, 1999), moths (Brehm et al, 2007), birds (Ding et al, 2005;McCain, 2009), invertebrates (Olson, 1994) and vascular plants (Odland and Birks, 1999;Bruun et al, 2006;Grytnes et al, 2006).…”

Small-mammal assemblage response to deforestation and afforestation in central China

“…Here they were trapped in ploughed fields and afforested set-aside fields, i.e the most degraded habitats regarding ground cover. These species were also recorded by Li et al (2003) in the most degraded habitats of Qilian mountains (Gansu), ie. desert, semi-desert and overgrazed grassland, at similar altitude levels.…”