| Abstract: | I surveyed more than 1,700 Western Hemisphere mammal species ranges to identify, quantify, and examine patterns of disjunction at multiple taxonomic levels. Species that had disjunct populations (isolated by at least 500 km from other parts of the species range) were further analyzed using novel measures of disjunction by determining the distance to the disjunction and the relative area of disjunctions compared to the primary range area. Disjunction at this scale is rare (6.4 percent) in all terrestrial mammals but more common in bats (14.6 percent) than nonvolant mammals. Disjunctions are concentrated in six families, specifically Molossidae (31.5 percent disjunct), Didelphidae (24.7 percent disjunct), Felidae (28.6 percent disjunct), Vespertilionidae (15.3 percent disjunct), Emballonuridae (10.5 percent disjunct), and Phyllostomidae (10.4 percent disjunct). Geographically, 85 percent of disjunct mammal species have ranges that occur entirely or partially in South America. Geographic information systems analysis of species range maps is capable of identifying disjunct species and evaluating the severity of disjunctions. When compiled at the family level, these data suggest that species in certain families are more susceptible to disjunction. In some cases (e.g., species ranges separated by the Amazon rainforest), species-level data offer insight into the causes of disjunction. Study of species identified as disjunct in this study can inform conservation efforts by providing an opportunity to determine the characteristics that enable them to survive as isolated populations. |
