Abstract
A complex of white-eared opossums (Didelphis spp.) is distributed across three distinct areas of South America, but recent taxonomic treatments have disagreed regarding species limits in the group. We used ecological niche modelling to test whether ecological niches have been conserved or have diverged among the three forms in this group. Differences in combinations of niche and range were clear; however, when hypotheses of accessible areas for each species were considered, coarse-grained niche dimensions (i.e. climatic dimensions) were seen not to differ across the complex. We discuss implications of these results for taxonomic recognition of species based on geographic and ecological characteristics and the implications of using ENM approaches to setting species limits.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-10 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Zoologica Scripta |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2014 Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.