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PDF
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Type:
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Journal Article |
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Author:
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Schmidt, Niels Martin; Jensen, Per Moestrup |
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Journal:
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Ecology and Society |
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Volume:
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10 |
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Page(s):
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Date:
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2005 |
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URI:
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https://hdl.handle.net/10535/2859
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Sector:
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Social Organization
Wildlife |
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Region:
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Europe |
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Subject(s):
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biology
change
evolution
fragmentation
landscape change
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Abstract:
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"We gathered length data on 61 Danish breeding birds from the past 200 years, and related the pattern of change to present body mass and other ecological parameters. Body mass was the only parameter significantly correlated with the rate of change, and the emerging pattern in the rate of change followed the island rule. That is, smaller species have become larger and vice versa, while the mediumsized species remain essentially unchanged. The suggested optimal body mass was around 85 g. Though orders of magnitude lower, the pattern in avian body size change was similar to that of Danish mammals. Our analyses suggest that increasing habitat fragmentation leads to altered body size towards being mediumsized in Danish vertebrates. The changing landscape, thus, appears to be an important driver of body size changes in vertebrates."
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