10. Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity in New World Temperate Rainforests
215
al., 1992, for a different view) . In southern Chile, the pattern of forest
advance and retreat paralleling glaciation and deglaciation episodes during
the Pleistocene did not result in extensive speciation among indigenous
animal species, probably because large areas of the mainland were
uncovered by ice , and the forest remained relatively continuous although
displaced latitudinally (Markgraf, 1991; Markgraf et al., 1992; Vuilleumeir,
1985). On the other hand, as southern forest areas were isolated from
other forests to the north, their faunas became increasingly characterized
by depauperization and endemism. Today, these forests are effectively
separated by at least 1100 km of arid high-altitude puna and Patagonian
steppes from the nearest forested areas to the north and northeast.
Methods
The terrestrial vertebrate faunas of the southern temperte forests were
reanalyzed by Meserve and Jaksic (1991) in regional comparisons with
available data for Pacific Northwest forests from earlier workers (e .g.,
Brown, 1985; Cei , 1979; Duellman, 1979a, 1979b; Formas, 1979; Glanz,
1982; Harris, 1984; Hershkovitz, 1972; Lacher & Mares, 1986; Pearson &
Pearson, 1982; Ruggiero, Aubry, Carey, & Huff, 1991; Vuilleumier,
1985; and references therein) . The results of these analyses are summarized here. In addition, we include data for rainforests in coastal
British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, using range maps and species
lists in regional guides (i.e. , Banfield, 1974; Cook, 1984; Hall, 1981;
MacDonald & Cook, 1993; Nussbaum, Brodie, & Storm, 1983; Stebbins,
1985). Only total numbers of species are considered, supplemented by
local estimates or composite inventories at specific sites over several
years. Except for the data in Ruggiero et al. (1991), which specifically
concern Pacific Northwest Douglas fir forests , the lists are limited in their
ability to resolve questions regarding differences in point or betweenhabitat diversity; but as summary data, they are valuable for overall
comparisons of southern and northern temperate forests. Information is
also available on mammalian habitat use and diet from the same reanalyses. In this chapter, we ignore avian species, because such data are
presented in several recent papers (Le ., Armesto , Smith-Ramirez, &
Sabag, this volume ; Jaksic & Feinsinger, 1991; Ralph, 1985; Ralph, Paton
& Taylor, 1991; Vuilleumier, 1985; Willson, De Santo, Sabag, & Armesto,
this volume).
After describing some salient features emerging from these data, we
discuss three specific aspects with respect to small-mammal species
density, distribution, and demography in the southern temperate forest
region. These include: 1) some general characteristics of small-mammal
assemblages in primary-growth and secondary-growth rainforests and
remnant forest islands; 2) the progressive decline in small-mammal species
215
al., 1992, for a different view) . In southern Chile, the pattern of forest
advance and retreat paralleling glaciation and deglaciation episodes during
the Pleistocene did not result in extensive speciation among indigenous
animal species, probably because large areas of the mainland were
uncovered by ice , and the forest remained relatively continuous although
displaced latitudinally (Markgraf, 1991; Markgraf et al., 1992; Vuilleumeir,
1985). On the other hand, as southern forest areas were isolated from
other forests to the north, their faunas became increasingly characterized
by depauperization and endemism. Today, these forests are effectively
separated by at least 1100 km of arid high-altitude puna and Patagonian
steppes from the nearest forested areas to the north and northeast.
Methods
The terrestrial vertebrate faunas of the southern temperte forests were
reanalyzed by Meserve and Jaksic (1991) in regional comparisons with
available data for Pacific Northwest forests from earlier workers (e .g.,
Brown, 1985; Cei , 1979; Duellman, 1979a, 1979b; Formas, 1979; Glanz,
1982; Harris, 1984; Hershkovitz, 1972; Lacher & Mares, 1986; Pearson &
Pearson, 1982; Ruggiero, Aubry, Carey, & Huff, 1991; Vuilleumier,
1985; and references therein) . The results of these analyses are summarized here. In addition, we include data for rainforests in coastal
British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, using range maps and species
lists in regional guides (i.e. , Banfield, 1974; Cook, 1984; Hall, 1981;
MacDonald & Cook, 1993; Nussbaum, Brodie, & Storm, 1983; Stebbins,
1985). Only total numbers of species are considered, supplemented by
local estimates or composite inventories at specific sites over several
years. Except for the data in Ruggiero et al. (1991), which specifically
concern Pacific Northwest Douglas fir forests , the lists are limited in their
ability to resolve questions regarding differences in point or betweenhabitat diversity; but as summary data, they are valuable for overall
comparisons of southern and northern temperate forests. Information is
also available on mammalian habitat use and diet from the same reanalyses. In this chapter, we ignore avian species, because such data are
presented in several recent papers (Le ., Armesto , Smith-Ramirez, &
Sabag, this volume ; Jaksic & Feinsinger, 1991; Ralph, 1985; Ralph, Paton
& Taylor, 1991; Vuilleumier, 1985; Willson, De Santo, Sabag, & Armesto,
this volume).
After describing some salient features emerging from these data, we
discuss three specific aspects with respect to small-mammal species
density, distribution, and demography in the southern temperate forest
region. These include: 1) some general characteristics of small-mammal
assemblages in primary-growth and secondary-growth rainforests and
remnant forest islands; 2) the progressive decline in small-mammal species