The genus Ochotona is revised using numerical techniques on 42 craniometric measurements. As a result of this revision 18 extant species are recognized: 0. alpina, 0. collaris, 0. curzoniae, 0. daurica, 0. erythrotis, 0. kamensis, 0. koslowi , 0. ladacensis, 0. lama, 0. macrotis, 0. pallasi, 0. princeps, 0. pusilla, 0. roylei, 0. rufescens, 0. rutila, 0. thibetana and 0. thomasi. A description is given for each species as well as its original reference, synonymies, univariate statistics for the 42 craniometric measurements and a general description of the animal and its habitat. A skull representative of each species and maps outlining general ranges are also presented. Results of linear discriminant function analyses indicate an affinity of species from similar habitats. Phylogenetic relationships among species are discussed, and a cladogram is presented. Changes in overall size dominate the cladogram, with small size appearing to be the plesiomorphic state. Some fossil ochotonid groups are also examined, although the measurement sets used were greatly reduced due to the fragmentary nature of the fossil material. The reduced measurement sets do not appear to be diagnostic of taxonomic differences, but they do appear to be reflective of habitat differences. As a result, the ochotonids may prove to be useful indicators of paleoenvironments. Range reduction due to the influence of climate and competition is also discussed, as is the trend toward an overall increase in body size. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed on Oct. 19, 2006). PDF text: vii, 264 p. : ill., maps ; 4.73Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3209966. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm, microfiche and paper formats.

Foram utilizados 30 encéfalos de coelhos Nova Zelândia (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injetados com látex, corado em vermelho, com objetivo de sistematizar as artérias da base do encéfalo e suas fontes de suprimento sanguíneo. Sistematizou-se a origem das fontes de suprimento sanguíneo para o encéfalo e as artérias (Aa) da face ventral do mesmo, tanto à direita (D) como à esquerda (E), com suas respectivas percentagens de aparecimento: o arco aórtico emitiu tronco braquiocefálico e artéria (A.) subclávia E (83,3%), ou tronco braquiocefálico, A. carótida comum E e A. subclávia E (16,7%). O tronco braquiocefálico lançou A. carótida comum D e E e A. subclávia D (83,3%), ou A. carótida comum D e A. subclávia D (16,7%). A. carótida comum dividiu-se em Aa carótidas externa e interna (96,7% D, 100% E). A. carótida interna D presente (96,7%) e ausente (3,3%), à E presente (100%). A. corióidea rostral D ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna D (83,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna D (16,7%), à E, ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna E (93,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna E (6,7%). A. cerebral média D e E ímpar (80%) e dupla (20%). A. cerebral rostral D com calibre médio (90%), calibre fino (6,7%), calibre muito fino (3,3%), à E, com calibre médio (76,7%), calibre fino (16,7%), calibre muito fino (6,7%). A. etmoidal interna ausente (73,3%), presente e ímpar (26,7%). A. cerebral caudal D, ímpar (66,7%), dupla (26,7%) e tripla (6,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Ramos terminais das Aa. vertebrais D e E presentes (100%) formaram a A. basilar (100%). A. espinhal ventral ímpar presente (100%). A. cerebelar caudal D, ímpar (43,3%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (26,7%) e dupla (30%), à E, ímpar (50%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (6,7%), dupla (40%) e tripla (3,3%). A. trigeminal D e E presente (100%). A. cerebelar rostral D, ímpar (53,3%) e dupla (46,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Observou-se que o círculo arterial cerebral do coelho foi fechado caudalmente (100%), rostralmente fechado (93,3%) e aberto (6,7%). O encéfalo foi suprido pelos sistemas vértebro-basilar e carotídeo. / It was utilized 30 brains of New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injected with red stained latex. The arteries to the blood supply’s sources and to the ventral surface of the brain were systematized, on the right (R) and on the left (L) sides, with respective percentages of appearance: the aortic arch emitted the braquicephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery (83,3%); or the braquicephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery (16,7%). The braquicephalic trunk emitted the right and the left commons carotids arteries and the right subclavian artery (83,3%); or the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery (16,7%). Commons carotid arteries divided into external and internal carotids arteries (96.7% on the R, 100% on the L.). The internal carotid artery, on the R, present (96,7%) and absent (3,3%), on the L, present (100%).The rostral corioidea artery, on the R, collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (83,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (16,7%), on the L, , collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (93,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (6,7%).The middle cerebral artery, on the R and on the L, single (80%) and double (20%).The rostral cerebral artery, on the R, with middle caliber (90%), thin caliber (6,7%) and much thin caliber (3,3%), on the L, with middle caliber (76,7%), thin caliber (16,7%) and much thin caliber (6,7%).The internal ethmoidal artery single, absent (73,3%), present and single (26,7%). The caudal cerebral artery, on the R, single (66,7%), double (26,7%) and triple (6,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,,7%). The terminal branches of the right and the left vertebral arteries present (100%) were forming the basilar artery (100%). The ventral spinal artery present (100%).The caudal cerebellar artery, on the R, single (43,3%), single with labirintic artery isolated (26,7%) and double (30%), on the L, single (50%), single with labirintic artery isolated (6,7%), double (40%) and triple (3,3%).The trigeminal artery, on the R and on the L, present (100%).The rostral cerebellar artery, on the R, single (53,3%) and double (46,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,7%). The rabbit’s cerebral arterial circle was closed caudally (100%) and it was rostrally closed (93,3%) or open (6,7%). The brain was supplied by vertebral-basilar and carotid systems.

Foram utilizados 30 encéfalos de coelhos Nova Zelândia (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injetados com látex, corado em vermelho, com objetivo de sistematizar as artérias da base do encéfalo e suas fontes de suprimento sanguíneo. Sistematizou-se a origem das fontes de suprimento sanguíneo para o encéfalo e as artérias (Aa) da face ventral do mesmo, tanto à direita (D) como à esquerda (E), com suas respectivas percentagens de aparecimento: o arco aórtico emitiu tronco braquiocefálico e artéria (A.) subclávia E (83,3%), ou tronco braquiocefálico, A. carótida comum E e A. subclávia E (16,7%). O tronco braquiocefálico lançou A. carótida comum D e E e A. subclávia D (83,3%), ou A. carótida comum D e A. subclávia D (16,7%). A. carótida comum dividiu-se em Aa carótidas externa e interna (96,7% D, 100% E). A. carótida interna D presente (96,7%) e ausente (3,3%), à E presente (100%). A. corióidea rostral D ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna D (83,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna D (16,7%), à E, ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna E (93,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna E (6,7%). A. cerebral média D e E ímpar (80%) e dupla (20%). A. cerebral rostral D com calibre médio (90%), calibre fino (6,7%), calibre muito fino (3,3%), à E, com calibre médio (76,7%), calibre fino (16,7%), calibre muito fino (6,7%). A. etmoidal interna ausente (73,3%), presente e ímpar (26,7%). A. cerebral caudal D, ímpar (66,7%), dupla (26,7%) e tripla (6,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Ramos terminais das Aa. vertebrais D e E presentes (100%) formaram a A. basilar (100%). A. espinhal ventral ímpar presente (100%). A. cerebelar caudal D, ímpar (43,3%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (26,7%) e dupla (30%), à E, ímpar (50%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (6,7%), dupla (40%) e tripla (3,3%). A. trigeminal D e E presente (100%). A. cerebelar rostral D, ímpar (53,3%) e dupla (46,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Observou-se que o círculo arterial cerebral do coelho foi fechado caudalmente (100%), rostralmente fechado (93,3%) e aberto (6,7%). O encéfalo foi suprido pelos sistemas vértebro-basilar e carotídeo. / It was utilized 30 brains of New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injected with red stained latex. The arteries to the blood supply’s sources and to the ventral surface of the brain were systematized, on the right (R) and on the left (L) sides, with respective percentages of appearance: the aortic arch emitted the braquicephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery (83,3%); or the braquicephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery (16,7%). The braquicephalic trunk emitted the right and the left commons carotids arteries and the right subclavian artery (83,3%); or the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery (16,7%). Commons carotid arteries divided into external and internal carotids arteries (96.7% on the R, 100% on the L.). The internal carotid artery, on the R, present (96,7%) and absent (3,3%), on the L, present (100%).The rostral corioidea artery, on the R, collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (83,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (16,7%), on the L, , collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (93,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (6,7%).The middle cerebral artery, on the R and on the L, single (80%) and double (20%).The rostral cerebral artery, on the R, with middle caliber (90%), thin caliber (6,7%) and much thin caliber (3,3%), on the L, with middle caliber (76,7%), thin caliber (16,7%) and much thin caliber (6,7%).The internal ethmoidal artery single, absent (73,3%), present and single (26,7%). The caudal cerebral artery, on the R, single (66,7%), double (26,7%) and triple (6,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,,7%). The terminal branches of the right and the left vertebral arteries present (100%) were forming the basilar artery (100%). The ventral spinal artery present (100%).The caudal cerebellar artery, on the R, single (43,3%), single with labirintic artery isolated (26,7%) and double (30%), on the L, single (50%), single with labirintic artery isolated (6,7%), double (40%) and triple (3,3%).The trigeminal artery, on the R and on the L, present (100%).The rostral cerebellar artery, on the R, single (53,3%) and double (46,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,7%). The rabbit’s cerebral arterial circle was closed caudally (100%) and it was rostrally closed (93,3%) or open (6,7%). The brain was supplied by vertebral-basilar and carotid systems.

Foram utilizados 30 encéfalos de coelhos Nova Zelândia (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injetados com látex, corado em vermelho, com objetivo de sistematizar as artérias da base do encéfalo e suas fontes de suprimento sanguíneo. Sistematizou-se a origem das fontes de suprimento sanguíneo para o encéfalo e as artérias (Aa) da face ventral do mesmo, tanto à direita (D) como à esquerda (E), com suas respectivas percentagens de aparecimento: o arco aórtico emitiu tronco braquiocefálico e artéria (A.) subclávia E (83,3%), ou tronco braquiocefálico, A. carótida comum E e A. subclávia E (16,7%). O tronco braquiocefálico lançou A. carótida comum D e E e A. subclávia D (83,3%), ou A. carótida comum D e A. subclávia D (16,7%). A. carótida comum dividiu-se em Aa carótidas externa e interna (96,7% D, 100% E). A. carótida interna D presente (96,7%) e ausente (3,3%), à E presente (100%). A. corióidea rostral D ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna D (83,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna D (16,7%), à E, ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna E (93,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna E (6,7%). A. cerebral média D e E ímpar (80%) e dupla (20%). A. cerebral rostral D com calibre médio (90%), calibre fino (6,7%), calibre muito fino (3,3%), à E, com calibre médio (76,7%), calibre fino (16,7%), calibre muito fino (6,7%). A. etmoidal interna ausente (73,3%), presente e ímpar (26,7%). A. cerebral caudal D, ímpar (66,7%), dupla (26,7%) e tripla (6,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Ramos terminais das Aa. vertebrais D e E presentes (100%) formaram a A. basilar (100%). A. espinhal ventral ímpar presente (100%). A. cerebelar caudal D, ímpar (43,3%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (26,7%) e dupla (30%), à E, ímpar (50%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (6,7%), dupla (40%) e tripla (3,3%). A. trigeminal D e E presente (100%). A. cerebelar rostral D, ímpar (53,3%) e dupla (46,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Observou-se que o círculo arterial cerebral do coelho foi fechado caudalmente (100%), rostralmente fechado (93,3%) e aberto (6,7%). O encéfalo foi suprido pelos sistemas vértebro-basilar e carotídeo. / It was utilized 30 brains of New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injected with red stained latex. The arteries to the blood supply’s sources and to the ventral surface of the brain were systematized, on the right (R) and on the left (L) sides, with respective percentages of appearance: the aortic arch emitted the braquicephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery (83,3%); or the braquicephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery (16,7%). The braquicephalic trunk emitted the right and the left commons carotids arteries and the right subclavian artery (83,3%); or the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery (16,7%). Commons carotid arteries divided into external and internal carotids arteries (96.7% on the R, 100% on the L.). The internal carotid artery, on the R, present (96,7%) and absent (3,3%), on the L, present (100%).The rostral corioidea artery, on the R, collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (83,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (16,7%), on the L, , collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (93,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (6,7%).The middle cerebral artery, on the R and on the L, single (80%) and double (20%).The rostral cerebral artery, on the R, with middle caliber (90%), thin caliber (6,7%) and much thin caliber (3,3%), on the L, with middle caliber (76,7%), thin caliber (16,7%) and much thin caliber (6,7%).The internal ethmoidal artery single, absent (73,3%), present and single (26,7%). The caudal cerebral artery, on the R, single (66,7%), double (26,7%) and triple (6,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,,7%). The terminal branches of the right and the left vertebral arteries present (100%) were forming the basilar artery (100%). The ventral spinal artery present (100%).The caudal cerebellar artery, on the R, single (43,3%), single with labirintic artery isolated (26,7%) and double (30%), on the L, single (50%), single with labirintic artery isolated (6,7%), double (40%) and triple (3,3%).The trigeminal artery, on the R and on the L, present (100%).The rostral cerebellar artery, on the R, single (53,3%) and double (46,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,7%). The rabbit’s cerebral arterial circle was closed caudally (100%) and it was rostrally closed (93,3%) or open (6,7%). The brain was supplied by vertebral-basilar and carotid systems.

Orientador: Marlene Tiduko Ueta / Tese ( doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T12:24:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rondon_MichelleVivianeSadosSantos_D.pdf: 5998356 bytes, checksum: 92f7ee4c29f1458fa4d49e970a955c26 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Os parasitas ocorrem praticamente em todos os níveis tróficos e sua transmissão pode depender da presença de uma variedade de hospedeiros intermediários, paratênicos e definitivos dentro do ecossistema. Exercem importantes efeitos sobre as populações de seus hospedeiros, alterando o comportamento, sucesso reprodutivo e a mortalidade. Por esse motivo, alguns autores os consideram importantes indicadores ambientais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a epidemiologia e a biodiversidade de parasitas intestinais em mamíferos silvestres do reservatório do Jaguari, situado na cidade de Vargem/SP e do Parque Ecológico Prof. Hermógenes de Freitas Leitão Filho em Campinas/SP, e relacionar com os hábitos dos hospedeiros. Os espécimes de mamíferos foram capturados por armadilhas, posteriormente foram medidos, pesados, marcados, e após a coleta de fezes, os animais foram soltos. Para a pesquisa dos parasitas intestinais utilizaram-se os métodos de sedimentação, flutuação, e necrópsias foram realizadas em alguns casos. No reservatório de Jaguari foram realizadas 23 coletas entre os meses de agosto de 2005 a agosto de 2007. Os pequenos mamíferos capturados (N= 235) foram: Akodon montensis (71,5%), Calomys sp. (6,8%), Oligoryzomys nigripes (14%), Didelphis aurita (3,4%), Gracilinanus sp. (0,4%), Lutreolina crassicaudata (0,4%), Monodelphis sp. (2,1%) e Sylvilagus brasiliensis (1,3%). Também fora recolhidas amostras fecais (N=44), encontradas nas margens do reservatório de: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (56,8%), Lontra longicaudis (38,6%) e Puma concolor (4,5%). Das 303 amostras, 205 apresentaram-se positivas para parasitas, representando 67,6%. Foram encontrados: adultos de Cruzia tentaculata (0,5%), larvas de Nematoda (18,5%), ovos de Ascarididae (2,9%), Cruzia tentaculata (1,5%), Oxyuridae (0,9%), semelhantes à Dioctophyma sp. (0,5%), Syphacia sp. (0,5%), Toxocaridae sp. (0,5%), Trichostrongylidae (79%), Trichuridae (17%), Hymenolepis diminuta (0,9%), Hymenolepis nana (5,4%), Pseudophyllidea (0,9%), Taeniidae (0,5%), Trematoda (6,3%) e Acanthocephala (3,4%). Cistos de Amoebidae (1,9%), Giardia sp. (0,9%), semelhantes à Balantidium sp. (0,5%), oocistos de Coccidiida (10,2%), Eimeria sp. (0,9%) e trofozoitos de Amoebidae (2,4%), também foram encontrados. No Parque Ecológico, foram realizadas 16 coletas entre os meses de novembro de 2006 a fevereiro de 2008. Os pequenos mamíferos capturados (N= 103) correspondem aos roedores Myocastor coypus (6,8%), Nectomys squamipes (1,0%), Rattus rattus (20,4%), e o marsupial Didelphis albiventris (71,8%). O total de amostras fecais coletadas foi de 279, e 207 apresentaram-se positivas para parasitas, representando 74,2%. Foram encontrados adultos de Cruzia tentaculata (1,4%), larvas de Nematoda (24,1%), ovos de Ascarididae (3,4%), Capillaridae (2,9%), Cruzia tentaculata (67,6%), Oxyuridae (3,4%), semelhantes à Dioctophyma sp. (1,0%); semelhante à Syngamus sp. (6,3%), Spiruroidea (1,0%), Trichostrongylidae (21,2%), Trichuridae (19,8%), Hymenolepis diminuta (0,5%), Trematoda (8,2%), e Acanthocephala (1,9%). Oocistos de Coccidiida (39,6%), Eimeria sp. (4,3%) e Isospora sp. (1,0%) também estiveram presentes. Akodon montensis foi o animal mais frequente e com maior número de morfotipos de parasitas do reservatório de Jaguari, o mesmo ocorreu com o marsupial Didelphis albiventris no Parque Ecológico. Os parasitas mais frequentes foram os de ciclo monoxênico, que estão intimamente ligados aos hábitos dos animais estudados. / Abstract: The parasites occur practically in all trophic levels and their transmission can depend by the presence of a variety of intermediate, parathenic and definitive hosts within the ecosystem. They have important effects over their host populations as, behaviour changing, reproductive success and mortality. By these reasons, some authors consider then important environmental indicators. The objective of this studying was the epidemiology and the intestinals parasites biodiversity in wild mammals from the reservoir of Jaguari, located at the City of Vargem, São Paulo state, and relates with the hosts habits. The specimens were captured by traps, than measured, checked the weight, marked, the faeces were collected and the animals were released. For the intestinals parasites research, the sedimentation and fluctuation methods were used, and autopsies were performed in some cases. In the Jaguari reservoir 23 collects were performed between august 2005 to august 2007. The smalls captured mammals (N= 235) were: Akodon montensis (71.5%), Calomys sp. (6.8%), Oligoryzomys nigripes (14%), Didelphis aurita (3.4%), Gracilinanus sp. (0.4%), Lutreolina crassicaudata (0.4%), Monodelphis sp. (2.1%) and Sylvilagus brasiliensis (1.3%). Also faeces samples were collected (N=44) from the margins of the reservoir as: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (56.8%), Lontra longicaudis (38.6%) and Puma concolor (4.5%). From the 303 samples, 205 showed positive for parasites, representing 67.6%. Were found: adults of Cruzia tentaculata (0.5%), larvae of Nematoda (18.5%), Ascarididae eggs (2.9%), Cruzia tentaculata (1.5%), Oxyuridae (0.9%), similars to Dioctophyma sp. (0.5%), Syphacia sp. (0.5%), Toxocaridae sp. (0.5%), Trichostrongylidae (79%), Trichuridae (17%), Hymenolepis diminuta (0.9%), Hymenolepis nana (5.4%), Pseudophyllidea (0.9%), Taeniidae (0.5%), Trematoda (6.3%) and Acanthocephala (3.4%). Cysts of Amoebidae (1.9%), Giardia sp. (0.9%), similars to Balantidium sp. (0.5%), oocysts of Coccidiida (10.2%), Eimeria sp. (0.9%) and trophozoites of Amoebidae (2.4%), also were found. In the Ecological Park, were done 16 collects between November 2006 to February 2008. The small mammals captured (N= 103) were the rodents Myocastor coypus (6.8%), Nectomys squamipes (1.0%), Rattus rattus (20.4%), and the marsupial Didelphis albiventris (71.8%). The total faeces samples collected was 279, and 207 showed positive for parasites, representing 74.2%. Were found adults of Cruzia tentaculata (1.4%), Nematoda larvae (24.1%), Ascarididae eggs (3.4%), Capillaridae (2.9%), Cruzia tentaculata (67.6%), Oxyuridae (3.4%), similars to Dioctophyma sp. (1.0%); similar to Syngamus sp. (6.3%), Spiruroidea (1.0%), Trichostrongylidae (21.2%), Trichuridae (19.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta (0.5%), Trematoda (8.2%), and Acanthocephala (1.9%). Oocysts of Coccidiida (39.6%), Eimeria sp. (4.3%) and Isospora sp. (1.0%) were present as well. Akodon montensis was the most frequent animal and with the highest number of parasites morphotypes from the Jaguari reservoir, the same happened with the marsupial Didelphis albiventris in the Ecological Park. The most frequent parasites were those which have monoxenic cycle, which are intimately connected to the feed habits from the studied animals. / Doutorado / Parasitologia / Doutor em Parasitologia

Through the Cenozoic, paleoclimate records show general trends of global cooling and increased aridity, and environments in North America shifted from predominantly forests to more open habitats. Paleobotanical records indicate grasses were present on the continent in the Eocene; however, paleosol and phytolith studies indicate that open habitats did not arise until the late Eocene or even later in the Oligocene. Studies of large mammalian herbivores have documented changes in ecomorphology and community structure through time, revealing that shifts in mammalian morphology occurred millions of years after the environmental changes thought to have triggered them. Smaller mammals, like rodents and lagomorphs, should more closely track climate and habitat changes due to their shorter generation times and smaller ranges, but these animals have received much less study. To examine changes in smaller mammals through time, we have assembled and analyzed an ecomorphological database of all North American rodent and lagomorph species. Analyses of these data found that rodent and lagomorph community structure changed dramatically through the Cenozoic, and shifts in diversity and ecology correspond closely with the timing of habitat changes. Cenozoic rodent and lagomorph species diversity is strongly biased by sampling of localities, but sampling-corrected diversity reveals diversity dynamics that, after an initial density-dependent diversification in the Eocene, track habitat changes and the appearance of new ecological adaptations. As habitats became more open and arid through time, rodent and lagomorph crown heights increased while burrowing, jumping, and cursorial adaptations became more prevalent. Through time, open-habitat specialists were added during periods of diversification, while closed-habitat taxa were disproportionately lost in subsequent diversity declines. While shifts among rodents and lagomorphs parallel changes in ungulate communities, they started millions of years earlier than in larger mammals. This is likely a consequence of the smaller mammal' greater sensitivity to environmental changes and more rapid evolution. These results highlight the importance of examining understudied members of vertebrate faunas for understanding the evolution of terrestrial communities through time.

Listed as federally-endangered in 1990, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (LKMR, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) exists as a metapopulation in patches of wetland habitat in Florida’s Lower Keys. This study sought to address 2 priority actions identified by the LKMR Recovery Team: (1) monitoring of populations and (2) reintroduction. Monitoring the distribution and status of LKMR populations is critical for targeting future management actions. Informal transects for rabbit fecal pellets were used to survey habitat patches documented in1988–1995 surveys and to identify additional patches of occupied and potential habitat. Next, a buffer was created around patches to help managers account for uncertainty in rabbit movements and to identify groups of patches that might function as local populations. Surveys included 228 patches of occupied and potential habitat, 102 of which were occupied by rabbits. Patches were arranged in 56 occupied and 88 potential populations. Surveys revealed new patches of both occupied and potential habitat. Considering only areas included in 1988–1995 surveys, however, revealed a net decrease in the number of occupied patches. Many of the recently extirpated populations, which tended to occupy the periphery of larger islands or small neighboring islands, were unlikely to be recolonized without human intervention. Reintroduction provides a means of artificially recolonizing potential habitat. Two pilot reintroductions were conducted to evaluate this conservation strategy for the species. The second reintroduction was postponed, but the first effort met all criteria for short-term success, including survival comparable to a control group, fidelity to release sites, and evidence of reproduction. There are a limited number of potential source populations for translocations. Future efforts should consider using in-situ captive breeding to prevent potential long-term impacts to these populations. Few potential release sites exhibited suitable habitat quality and landscape context. Thus, for reintroduction to be more widely-applied for this species, it must be part of a comprehensive management plan involving land acquisition, control of secondary impacts from development, and habitat restoration and enhancement.

Listed as federally-endangered in 1990, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (LKMR, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) exists as a metapopulation in patches of wetland habitat in Florida’s Lower Keys. This study sought to address 2 priority actions identified by the LKMR Recovery Team: (1) monitoring of populations and (2) reintroduction. Monitoring the distribution and status of LKMR populations is critical for targeting future management actions. Informal transects for rabbit fecal pellets were used to survey habitat patches documented in1988–1995 surveys and to identify additional patches of occupied and potential habitat. Next, a buffer was created around patches to help managers account for uncertainty in rabbit movements and to identify groups of patches that might function as local populations. Surveys included 228 patches of occupied and potential habitat, 102 of which were occupied by rabbits. Patches were arranged in 56 occupied and 88 potential populations. Surveys revealed new patches of both occupied and potential habitat. Considering only areas included in 1988–1995 surveys, however, revealed a net decrease in the number of occupied patches. Many of the recently extirpated populations, which tended to occupy the periphery of larger islands or small neighboring islands, were unlikely to be recolonized without human intervention. Reintroduction provides a means of artificially recolonizing potential habitat. Two pilot reintroductions were conducted to evaluate this conservation strategy for the species. The second reintroduction was postponed, but the first effort met all criteria for short-term success, including survival comparable to a control group, fidelity to release sites, and evidence of reproduction. There are a limited number of potential source populations for translocations. Future efforts should consider using in-situ captive breeding to prevent potential long-term impacts to these populations. Few potential release sites exhibited suitable habitat quality and landscape context. Thus, for reintroduction to be more widely-applied for this species, it must be part of a comprehensive management plan involving land acquisition, control of secondary impacts from development, and habitat restoration and enhancement.