A test of the peninsular effect on species diversity

Abstract

The hypothesis tested was that species diversity declines along peninsulas because of the direct effects of peninsular geometry upon rates of colonization and extinction of local populations. Communities of carabid beetles and small mammals (rodents and insectivores) were sampled at 3 sites along Red Deer Point in Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba [Canada], this was chosen as a research site from a map of North America solely on the basis of its size and shape. From the samples taken from this 39 km peninsula, it appears that carabids and small mammals fail to exhibit an identifiable peninsular effect. PU - OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS CLUB PI - OTTAWA PA - PO BOX 35069, WESTGATE PO, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1Z 1A2, CANADA