Contrasting responses of Peromyscus mice of Yosemite National Park to recent climate change

A study of Peromyscus mice in Yosemite National Park reveals contrasting responses to climate change between two species. While the generalist Peromyscus maniculatus showed no distribution shifts, the specialist P. truei expanded its range into new habitats, challenging its classification as a habitat specialist. Genetic analysis suggested cryptic geographic changes in P. maniculatus, while morphometric data confirmed that P. truei's subspecies is limited by climate variables rather than habitat preferences. These findings highlight the need to reassess natural-history assumptions in predictive models of species' responses to climate change, emphasizing the importance of verifying ecological generalizations with empirical data.

YANG, D.-S., CONROY, C. J., & MORITZ, C. (2011). Contrasting responses of Peromyscus mice of Yosemite National Park to recent climate change. Global Change Biology, 17(8), 2559–2566. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02394.x