The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future

The niche and niche breadth of Dwarf Chameleons, Bradypodion, was assessed in terms of broad scale climatic factors. A niche-based modelling method was then used to construct present and future habitat suitability maps for 2050 and 2080, for species in the genus. Additionally, the relationship between environment and morphology was analysed for a representative Bradypodion species, the Cape Dwarf Chameleon, B. pumilum. The niche and niche breadth of species and phylogenetic clades were analysed and described via an ordination technique, the outlying mean index (OMI) analysis. Maxent (v2.3), a presence only niche modelling method, proved very useful in the construction of present and future habitat suitability maps for species within the genus. For analysis of the correspondence between environment and morphology for B. pumilum, regression trees were employed. Rainfall seasonality and maximum annual temperatures were shown to strongly effect the current distributions of the genus Bradypodion at both the species and clade level. Additionally, as closely related species inhabited similar environmental niches, the genus was shown to display a degree of niche conservatism. All species and clades were shown to respond to climate change scenarios for 2050 and 2080, but responses were individualistic. However, most demonstrated range contractions under predicted climate scenarios. Additionally, a strong correlation (p < 0.05) was found between the morphology of B. pumilum and its environment. Environmental factors explained over 40% of the variation in snout-vent length and tail length, and over 20% of the variation in head width and head height, thus supporting the hypothesis of a correspondence between vegetation and morphology in Bradypodion. These results have provided an understanding of the relationship between Bradypodion and their environments that could provide valuable information regarding their ecology. Additionally, the habitat suitability maps for 2050 and 2080 could prove useful in the construction of any future conservation plans for these species. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis of a correspondence between environmental factors and morphological traits within the genus Bradypodion.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Statistical Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Houniet, Darren

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Underhill, Les
• Thuiller, Wilfried
• Tolley, Krystal A
• Midgley, Guy

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7472

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7472