Chorotypes as a tool for distribution pattern assessment
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| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Concept of “chorotype” was originally defined by Baroni-Urbani et al. (1978) as an elementary distribution pattern followed by one or several species that can be operatively recognized within a territory. In other words, chorotype can be defined as the group of species whose distribution in space overlap more than expected at random. Real et al. (1992) developed a probabilistic method for testing the existence of such groups of species starting from classification analysis of species according to their geographical distribution. We applied this method on distribution data of native small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) of the Czech Republic. Data were extracted from distribution atlases based on a grid of 679 cells, each of them represents 11,1 x 12 km large area. Analyses led to four multispecies chorotypes. Three of them are geographically more or less restricted, and one chorotype is widespread. The first chorotype includes mainly steppe species (e.g. Apodemus uralensis) and its centre is situated into south Moravia. Second chorotype includes originally steppe species but with more extensive distribution. Third chorotype is widespread with centre of diversity in higher altitudes. It includes widespread European or Palearctic species. Fourth chorotype includes species of higher altitudes like Sorex alpinus. Main centre of this chorotype tend eastward, and it is situated in Beskydy Mts. and Hrubý Jeseník Mts. Chorotypes may result from ecological causes, i.e. differential responses to environment conditions shared by several species, or from historical causes, i.e. past events that restricted or biased certain species to different parts of the territory. It may represent consistent biogeographical response among subset of species, and may thus be useful for biogeographical and biodiversity patterns assessment. Moreover, the method can be used not only for recognizing chorotypes but also for delimitation of biogeographical regions based on species distributions. |
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