Institut für Biologie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg

 

Date of this Version

2010

Document Type

Article

Citation

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei (2010) band 11: 323-328.

Comments

Copyright 2010, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg, Halle (Saale). Used by permission.

Abstract

Daurian hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) and long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) inhabit Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia and both species appear to occupy similar niches. We gathered morphological measurements to test for differences between species and sexes. We hoped to gain insight into the mechanisms that allow the species to coexist. We collected morphometric data from 10 long-eared hedgehogs (6 male, 4 female) and 18 Daurian hedgehogs (10 male, 7 female, and 1 unknown sex). Only total body length in Daurian hedgehogs differed significantly between males and females. Otherwise, we found no significant differences between morphometric measures of male and female hedgehogs of either species. Daurian hedgehogs were larger than long-eared hedgehogs for every measurement except for ear length; however, only girth, weight, and length of ear differed significantly. A general linear model found that animal girth best differentiated the two species. Coexistence of species that occupy similar niches generally occurs through the differential use of resources and may be inferred from morphological differentiation. We plan continued research to better explore resource partitioning between the two species.

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