Relationships Between Terrestrial Mammal Species\nand Area in China

Abstract

The study of species-area relationship is an important component of biogeography.We counted the numbers of species,genera,families and orders of terrestrial mammals recorded in 34 administrative districts in China following the latest classification system of mammal species and investigated the species-area relationships.A total of 636 terrestrial mammal species(of 11 orders,39 families and 183 genera)have been recorded in China.Significant relationships were observed between area and numbers of terrestrial mammal species of four orders(Carnivora,Artiodactyla,Rodentia,Eulipotyphla).No significant relationship was found between Chiroptera species and area.z values ranked in descending order as Eulipotyphla(0.314 7),Rodentia(0.295 0),Artiodactyla(0.281 6)and Carnivora(0.279 5),values that are consistent with the motility of the species of these orders(greater motility yields lower z values).This study provided primary materials of species-area relationships for 34 administrative districts in China.\n