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The Effects Of Atmospheric Pressure On Inter-Specific Competition And The Morphological And Hematological Characteristics Of Elevational Distributions Of Hummingbirds, Ariel M. Gaffney
Biology ETDs
Species diversity in mountainous regions is strongly influenced elevational range limits of species, but it is generally not known which abiotic or biotic factors maintain these limits. Using Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, species with offset but overlapping elevational ranges in the southwestern USA, we investigate the role barometric pressure plays in influencing these limits. In chapter one, we used a hypobaric chamber to test the effects of variable air pressures on interspecific competitive dominance. We sequenced the genes that encode the two adult isoforms of haemoglobin and measured the O2-binding affinity of each isoform. In chapter two, we …