title: [Ecomorphological explanations of passerines coexistence in alpine meadow].
abstract: Species ecomorphological characteristics are the evolutionary results of selective pressures that have enabled individuals of a given species to survive and reproduce. Closely related species co-occurring in homogeneous environments should be morphologically distinct to partition limited resources, so as to minimize interspecific competition. From 1983 to 2012, we studied the ecomorphological characteristics of nine passerine species in alpine meadow. Results showed six ecomorphological characteristics of the nine species were significantly different. Approximately, 92.0% of samples were correctly classified and the correct rates ranged from 84.5% to 100.0%, except for the Oriental Skylark (Eremophila alpestris), which was 79.2%. Accordingly, the nine species were divided into five guilds based on their characteristics. Results indicated that the niches of all species were divergent, and the ecomorphological characteristics of the specific species in each guild were related to their habitats and foraging behaviors. These results also explained the possible mechanisms of different species coexistence in alpine meadow.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810001, China. lzhao@nwipb.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Cheng
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jia-Chen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiao-Ai
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Alpine meadow; Coexistence; Ecomorphology; Guild; Passerines