We studied the habitat characteristics of 7 species of montane land snails in the genus Ashmunella in southern New Mexico from July 1999 to September 2000. We compared 9 numeric variables and 4 categorical variables by species. Geographic differences in microhabitat variables exist among these species; however, these differences tend to be obscured when comparing species, because some species are ecological generalists that occupy a wide range of habitat types. Although this study determined that different populations occupy ecologically distinct habitats in a broad range of environmental conditions, it remains unclear whether these factors influence the morphological characters on which past workers assigned species status. Management plans for the conservation of these species should take careful note of demonstrated habitat differences among and within the species.
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1 March 2003
HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS OF ASHMUNELLA (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA: POLYGYRIDAE) AT WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE AND FORT BLISS, NEW MEXICO
Andrew J. Kroll,
Ken Boykin,
Mark C. Andersen,
Bruce C. Thompson,
David L. Daniel
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