Author(s): Liao, J., Zhang, Z. & Liu, N.
Title: Altitudinal variation of skull size in Daurian pika (Ochotona daurica Pallas, 1868)
Year: 2006
Volume: 52
Pages: 319-329.
Abstract: Body size and skull size of animals were usually considered positively correlated with a decrease in temperature. This is known as Bergmann's rule. However, with the increase of altitude other factors besides temperature, such as low oxygen concentration, may affect animals' growth and development. We tested the skull size of Daurian pika (Ochotona daurica) that were collected from different altitudinal localities to determine the trend in skull size with altitude. Our study showed that skull size is negatively correlated with altitude. The temperature decreased with altitude, as a result of converse to Bergmann's rule. This confirmed that Bergmann's rule is not universally valid on interpreting for animal body size cline. We contribute this to hypoxia, food shortage caused by short frost-free period and energy distribution. Our study suggests that low oxygen concentration and frost-free period should be considered when animal body size cline is discussed.
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Mahunka, S., Papp, L., Báldi, A., Csuzdi, Cs. & Forró, L.
