The Influence of Types of Soil upon the Local Distribution of Some Mammals in Southwestern Utah

Hardy, Ross

doi:10.2307/1943295

Cited by 45 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…Though soil color is a strong evolutionary force driving pelage coloration [32], [33], the soil type overrides soil color and selects for convergent evolution in pelage lightness and eumelanin of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies. These results support Hardy's [34] findings that soil types have significant influence on coat color and on the local distribution of mammals. Indeed pelage coloration of different populations approximated better with soil type than with microscale variation in soil color.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Adaptation of Pelage Color and Pigment Variations in Israeli Subterranean Blind Mole Rats, Spalax Ehrenbergi

et al. 2013

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BackgroundConcealing coloration in rodents is well established. However, only a few studies examined how soil color, pelage color, hair-melanin content, and genetics (i.e., the causal chain) synergize to configure it. This study investigates the causal chain of dorsal coloration in Israeli subterranean blind mole rats, Spalax ehrenbergi.MethodsWe examined pelage coloration of 128 adult animals from 11 populations belonging to four species of Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies (Spalax galili, Spalax golani, Spalax carmeli, and Spalax judaei) and the corresponding coloration of soil samples from the collection sites using a digital colorimeter. Additionally, we quantified hair-melanin contents of 67 animals using HPLC and sequenced the MC1R gene in 68 individuals from all four mole rat species.ResultsDue to high variability of soil colors, the correlation between soil and pelage color coordinates was weak and significant only between soil hue and pelage lightness. Multiple stepwise forward regression revealed that soil lightness was significantly associated with all pelage color variables. Pelage color lightness among the four species increased with the higher southward aridity in accordance to Gloger's rule (darker in humid habitats and lighter in arid habitats). Darker and lighter pelage colors are associated with darker basalt and terra rossa, and lighter rendzina soils, respectively. Despite soil lightness varying significantly, pelage lightness and eumelanin converged among populations living in similar soil types. Partial sequencing of the MC1R gene identified three allelic variants, two of which were predominant in northern species (S. galili and S. golani), and the third was exclusive to southern species (S. carmeli and S. judaei), which might have caused the differences found in pheomelanin/eumelanin ratio.Conclusion/SignificanceDarker dorsal pelage in darker basalt and terra rossa soils in the north and lighter pelage in rendzina and loess soils in the south reflect the combined results of crypsis and thermoregulatory function following Gloger's rule.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Adaptation of Pelage Color and Pigment Variations in Israeli Subterranean Blind Mole Rats, Spalax Ehrenbergi

et al. 2013

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“…Little information concerning distribution is derived fromt the paucity and erratic distribution of the catch of Reithi odontouiys iniegalotis, however, it did not occur in any of the stands sampled in the coniferoUs forest. Seral vegetation of the weedy annual type rather than climax vegetation seems to be the preferred habitat of this mouse (Hardy 1945) An evaluation of the influence of vegetatioll cover upon the local distribution of mice was made in three contiguous stands of vegetation representative of the Festufca zone. The study area consists of about 28 acres of relatively uindisturbed vegetation (Johnsgard and Rickard 1957) Ilicrotfis miontanits characteristically constructs.…”

Section: Icroynatthiis Pur7'lts Is Rel)resented In Both Thementioning

confidence: 99%

The Distribution of Small Mammals in Relation to the Climax Vegetation Mosaic in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho

Rickard¹

1960

Ecology

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“…Some studies have reported that the texture of the soil is a primary factor limiting the distribution of some fossorial mammals (Hardy 1945;Miller 1964).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil type limits population abundance of rodents in crop fields: case study of the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834 in Tanzania

Massawe

Rwamugira

Leirs

et al. 2008

Integrative Zoology

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Studies of populations of the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis in Morogoro, Tanzania, show that soil texture appears to influence the population abundance and distribution of these rats in agricultural fields. The lowest rodent population abundance was found on sandy clay soils (F (2, 5) = 8.42; P = 0.025). The population abundances of M. natalensis on sandy clay loam and sandy loam soils did not differ significantly (P ≤ 0.05), possibly because these soils have a very similar texture. The results of this study suggest that M. natalensis prefers loam-textured soils with a high percentage of sand, which are probably better than clay soils for burrowing and nesting, particularly in the rainy season. The lower preference for clay soils is probably related to the poor aeration in these soils and the waterlogging that occurs during the wet season.

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The Influence of Types of Soil upon the Local Distribution of Some Mammals in Southwestern Utah

Cited by 45 publications

References 44 publications

Adaptation of Pelage Color and Pigment Variations in Israeli Subterranean Blind Mole Rats, Spalax Ehrenbergi

Adaptation of Pelage Color and Pigment Variations in Israeli Subterranean Blind Mole Rats, Spalax Ehrenbergi

The Distribution of Small Mammals in Relation to the Climax Vegetation Mosaic in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho

Soil type limits population abundance of rodents in crop fields: case study of the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834 in Tanzania

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