Biology ETDs

Publication Date

6-11-1973

Abstract

A total of 487 adult Myotis californicus from the southwestern United States and Mexico were examined and analyzed utilizing both univariate and multivariate procedures. The major conclusions are as follows:

  1. Females average larger in most characters studied, but the pattern of variation is discontinuous with different samples sexually dimorphic to different extents and in different characters. The possibility of niche partitioning is discussed.
  2. Individual variation in this species appears low as shown by coefficients of variation.
  3. Univariate analysis indicates a slight increase in size of most characters studied from west to east. This size increase is gradual with considerable overlap among samples.
  4. Color varies directly with mean annual precipitation, with bats from arid regions being more pale than bats from mesic, montane areas.
  5. Montane bats appear to share certain phenetic features other than dark color. Most montane bats are slightly deeper skulled, longer in forearm, and shorter eared and tailed. Such changes may reflect adaptation to higher, cooler habitats.
  6. Isophanes, utilized as a summarization of climatic information, were not significantly correlated with any phenetic variables, but did account for small portions of the variation in some variables as shown by regression analysis.

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

James Smith Findley

Second Committee Member

William George Degenhardt

Third Committee Member

Gordon Verle Johnson

Fourth Committee Member

Marvin LeRoy Riedesel

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