Diversity trends in Neogene European ungulates and rodents: large-scale comparisons and perspectives |
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Authors: | Olivier Maridet Loïc Costeur |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 142 Xizhimenwai Dajie, P.O. Box 643, Beijing, 100044, China;(2) Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Augustinergasse 2, 4001 Basel, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | The ungulate and rodent fossil records are often used independently to understand mammalian evolutionary history. Few studies
have directly compared both records over long time periods and large geographic areas. Here, we compiled two datasets of European
fossil localities containing rodents and/or ungulates over 20 My (Early Miocene–Early Pliocene) and processed the data with
the same methodology. We counted the raw diversity and calculated a measure of evenness (Pielou’s index). After controlling
for potential biases on diversity estimators, we identify the evenness index as a more reliable estimator bringing interesting
insights into the way both mammal groups are structured by biotic or abiotic factors. In this study, we consider that an uneven
distribution of the species richness among families, when only some families successfully diversify within the “continental-scale
community”, represents a lower adaptability of this community to the environmental context. Pielou’s index is used to estimate
this adaptability through time. The responses of ungulates and rodents to environmental changes are very divergent, especially
facing the climatic changes known since the Middle Miocene. The general patterns suggest that rodent broad-scale assemblages
are affected by all kinds of perturbations, even short biotic and abiotic events, but show a better adaptability when facing
long-term abiotic changes. Unlike rodents, the ungulate assemblages show more stability in periods of relative environmental
stability but show less adaptability to long-term climatic changes. Life-history traits of mammals can help explain patterns
of diversity and biogeography at different spatial scales and may probably partly explain the opposite patterns evidenced
here. |
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