Ecological Structure of Mammalian Faunas in Relation to Climate

9318304 Badgley这项研究是气候对哺乳动物群落生态结构影响研究的继续，以大小和营养结构为代表。利用现有数据，这项研究将包括对五大洲哺乳动物区系的分析。主要的研究问题包括评估大陆动物群之间和来自不同大陆的组合之间的大小，营养专业化和系统发育联系之间的相关性。这项研究将记录哺乳动物群落对不断变化的气候条件的反应。此外，系统发育的制约因素将被纳入不同的动物群组合的大小和营养结构的理解。 这项研究首次详细分析了大陆和全球范围内气候条件与哺乳动物群落生态结构之间的关系。这项研究的结果将使人们更清楚地了解气候在塑造生态群落中的作用，并为未来气候变化情景下的哺乳动物区系变化建立预测模型。 ***

9318304 Badgley This research is a continuation of a study of the influence of climate on the ecological structure of mammal communities as represented by size and trophic structure. Using existing data, this study will encompass analyses of mammal faunas on five continents. The primary research questions include evaluating the correlation among size, trophic specialization, and phylogenetic affiliation among continental faunas and among assemblages from different continents. The study will document the response of mammal assemblages to changing climatic conditions. Also, phylogenetic constraints will be incorporated into an understanding of size and trophic structure of different faunal assemblages. %%% The proposed research represents the first detailed analysis of relationships between climatic conditions and ecological structure of mammal assemblages on a continental and global scale. Results from this research will lead to a clearer understanding of the role of climate in shaping ecological communities, and to a predictive model for mammalian faunal change under scenarios of future climate change. ***