Rodent Faunal Turnover and Prehistoric Community Stability in Northwestern New Mexico

Analyses of 15 prehistoric rodent-containing faunas from northwestern New Mexico (A.D. 1065-1260) reveal a significant amount of species turnover in 200 yr. The faunal replacements correlate with climatic changes which were occurring in the study area. As aridity increased, several mesic-adapted species (Microtus mexicanus, Peromyscus leucopus, and Peromyscus boylii) were replaced by xeric-adapted species (Perognathus apache and Peromyscus crinitus). However certain aspects of community organization, such as the total number of species present and the trophic structure remained constant during the time period under study. Apparently the changing prehistoric environmental regimes were not of sufficient magnitude to cause major reorganization of the rodent community.