The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future

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dc.contributor.advisorUnderhill, Lesen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorThuiller, Wilfrieden_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorTolley, Krystal Aen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorMidgley, Guyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHouniet, Darrenen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-15T07:29:24Z
dc.date.available2014-09-15T07:29:24Z
dc.date.issued2007en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe niche and niche breadth of Dwarf Chameleons, Bradypodion, was assessed in terms of broad scale climatic factors. A niche-based modelling method was then used to construct present and future habitat suitability maps for 2050 and 2080, for species in the genus. Additionally, the relationship between environment and morphology was analysed for a representative Bradypodion species, the Cape Dwarf Chameleon, B. pumilum. The niche and niche breadth of species and phylogenetic clades were analysed and described via an ordination technique, the outlying mean index (OMI) analysis. Maxent (v2.3), a presence only niche modelling method, proved very useful in the construction of present and future habitat suitability maps for species within the genus. For analysis of the correspondence between environment and morphology for B. pumilum, regression trees were employed. Rainfall seasonality and maximum annual temperatures were shown to strongly effect the current distributions of the genus Bradypodion at both the species and clade level. Additionally, as closely related species inhabited similar environmental niches, the genus was shown to display a degree of niche conservatism. All species and clades were shown to respond to climate change scenarios for 2050 and 2080, but responses were individualistic. However, most demonstrated range contractions under predicted climate scenarios. Additionally, a strong correlation (p < 0.05) was found between the morphology of B. pumilum and its environment. Environmental factors explained over 40% of the variation in snout-vent length and tail length, and over 20% of the variation in head width and head height, thus supporting the hypothesis of a correspondence between vegetation and morphology in Bradypodion. These results have provided an understanding of the relationship between Bradypodion and their environments that could provide valuable information regarding their ecology. Additionally, the habitat suitability maps for 2050 and 2080 could prove useful in the construction of any future conservation plans for these species. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis of a correspondence between environmental factors and morphological traits within the genus Bradypodion.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHouniet, D. (2007). <i>The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Statistical Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7472en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHouniet, Darren. <i>"The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Statistical Sciences, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7472en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHouniet, D. 2007. The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Houniet, Darren AB - The niche and niche breadth of Dwarf Chameleons, Bradypodion, was assessed in terms of broad scale climatic factors. A niche-based modelling method was then used to construct present and future habitat suitability maps for 2050 and 2080, for species in the genus. Additionally, the relationship between environment and morphology was analysed for a representative Bradypodion species, the Cape Dwarf Chameleon, B. pumilum. The niche and niche breadth of species and phylogenetic clades were analysed and described via an ordination technique, the outlying mean index (OMI) analysis. Maxent (v2.3), a presence only niche modelling method, proved very useful in the construction of present and future habitat suitability maps for species within the genus. For analysis of the correspondence between environment and morphology for B. pumilum, regression trees were employed. Rainfall seasonality and maximum annual temperatures were shown to strongly effect the current distributions of the genus Bradypodion at both the species and clade level. Additionally, as closely related species inhabited similar environmental niches, the genus was shown to display a degree of niche conservatism. All species and clades were shown to respond to climate change scenarios for 2050 and 2080, but responses were individualistic. However, most demonstrated range contractions under predicted climate scenarios. Additionally, a strong correlation (p < 0.05) was found between the morphology of B. pumilum and its environment. Environmental factors explained over 40% of the variation in snout-vent length and tail length, and over 20% of the variation in head width and head height, thus supporting the hypothesis of a correspondence between vegetation and morphology in Bradypodion. These results have provided an understanding of the relationship between Bradypodion and their environments that could provide valuable information regarding their ecology. Additionally, the habitat suitability maps for 2050 and 2080 could prove useful in the construction of any future conservation plans for these species. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis of a correspondence between environmental factors and morphological traits within the genus Bradypodion. DA - 2007 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2007 T1 - The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future TI - The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7472 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/7472
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHouniet D. The effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and future. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Statistical Sciences, 2007 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7472en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Statistical Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherStatistical Sciencesen_ZA
dc.titleThe effects of environment and niche on the distributions of dwarf chameleons, present and futureen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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