Mediterranean-climate regions support large human populations resulting in extensive, and outside the Mediterranean Basin proper, rapid, anthropogenic transformation. Compared to other continental areas, Mediterranean regions have been invaded by a large number of non-indigenous organisms, including vertebrates. Concomitant with invasions, declines and extinctions have transformed the faunas of Mediterranean ecoregions.
Goals
Project objectives were to1) compare the vertebrate body mass structures of Mediterranean-climate ecosystems, and
2) examine the effects of invasions and extinctions in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems on body mass structure and alpha, beta and gamma diversity.
Current Status
This project is complete with results compiled into a master's thesis.
Graduate Student(s)
-Aaron Lotz
Funding
-U.S. Geological Survey