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1 November 2000 ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN BODY SIZE OF THE EASTERN COTTONTAIL (SYLVILAGUS FLORIDANUS)
Susan P. Olcott, Ronald E. Barry
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Abstract

Geographic variation in body size of Sylvilagus floridanus was investigated from 3 climatically different and disjunct regions of the range of this species (region 1, northeastern United States and southern Canada; region 2, southeastern United States; region 3, southwestern United States and northern Mexico). On a rangewide scale, body size decreased from east to west and less strongly north to south, consistent with Bergmann's rule, and was associated most strongly with variability in winter precipitation. On a regional scale, body size decreased from northwest to southeast in region 1 and southwest to northeast in region 3. We detected no trend in region 2. Large body size in region 1 was found in cold and dry environments. Body size in region 3 increased with cooler and wetter summer environments, high elevations, and low variability in winter precipitation. Bergmann's rule was supported within region 1 but not in region 2 or 3. Directions and magnitudes of trends in body size appear to depend on severity of climate; the 2 most climatically stressful regions (1 and 3) had stronger climatic correlations than region 2.

Susan P. Olcott and Ronald E. Barry "ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN BODY SIZE OF THE EASTERN COTTONTAIL (SYLVILAGUS FLORIDANUS)," Journal of Mammalogy 81(4), 986-998, (1 November 2000). https://doi.org/10.1644/1545-1542(2000)081<0986:ECOGVI>2.0.CO;2
Received: 23 May 1999; Accepted: 21 March 2000; Published: 1 November 2000
KEYWORDS
Bergmann's rule
climatic correlation
eastern cottontail
geographic variation
Sylvilagus floridanus
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