Relationship between species richness of small mammals and primary productivity of arid and semi-arid grasslands in north China |
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| Authors: | Guiming Wang Zuwang Wang Qingqiang Zhou Wenqin Zhong |
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| Institution: | Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China |
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| Abstract: | We studied the relationship between primary productivity and species richness of small mammals at both large and small spatial scales in the arid and semi-arid grasslands of north China. The productivity (x)–species richness (y) pattern at a large spatial scale can be described by a unimodal quadratic regression curve (y=7·41+0·1*x−0·0003*x2,p =0·008, r2=0·788). At a small spatial scale, however, neither linear nor quadratic regression fit the data for 1980 and 1994 (p>0·25). Primary productivity may not be an appropriate predictor of the species richness of small mammals at a small spatial scale. We conclude, therefore, that the primary productivity–species richness pattern of small mammals may be scale-dependent in the arid and semi-arid grasslands of north China. Landscape complexity should be considered in future studies of productivity–richness relationships. |
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| Keywords: | grasslands primary productivity small mammals spatial scale species richness |
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