The signature of human pressure history on the biogeography of body mass in tetrapods

• DOI: 10.1111/geb.12612
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03T09:52:35Z
• Authors: Giovanni Rapacciuolo; Julie Marin; Gabriel C. Costa; Matthew R. Helmus; Jocelyn E. Behm; Thomas M. Brooks; S. Blair Hedges; Volker C. Radeloff; Bruce E. Young; Catherine H. Graham
• Keywords: Tetrapod (structure)

Abstract Aim Examining the biogeography of body size is crucial for understanding how animal communities are assembled and maintained. In tetrapods, varies predictably with temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality topographical complexity. Although millennial‐scale human pressures known to have led extinction primarily large‐bodied pressure history often ignored in studies that focus on extant species. Here, we analyse 11,377 tetrapod species Western Hemisphere test whether left an imprint contemporary mass distributions throughout clade. Location Hemisphere. Time period Contemporary. Major taxa studied Tetrapods (birds, mammals, amphibians reptiles). Methods We mapped distribution assemblage‐level median at a resolution 110 km across then generated multivariate models as function complexity, well two variables capturing population density human‐induced land conversion over past 12,000 years. controlled both spatial phylogenetic autocorrelation effects mass–environment relationships. Results Human explain small but significant portion geographical variation cannot be explained by ecological constraints alone. Overall, assemblages lower than expected areas longer high conversion, there important differences among classes. Main conclusions At this broad scale, effect low relative ecology. However, ignoring likely lead bias present‐day functional composition assemblages, least long been influenced humans.