| It is generally agreed that there are three ways that species can react to drastic environmental change. They can move with the conditions that are suitable for them, adapt to meet the new conditions, or go extinct. Whether a species can shift spatially or morphologically is an important question for anyone interested in predicting how species will respond to climate change. An increasing number of studies have documented changes in rodent body size corresponding to changes in climate, which has important implications for the behavioral and physiological processes of those species. The giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingnes, GKR) is a grassland specialist that occurs in areas with very specific temperature and precipitation ranges. Due to its specific habitat needs and small range ringed by agriculture and oil fields, a distribution shift is not likely for the GKR. If the GKR is to persist under climate change, morphological changes may be necessary. To assess whether GKR is undergoing measurable change, I will use museum specimens spanning 100 years and GKR live-trapping data collected over a period of 10 years to assess whether GKR body size has responded to short- and long-term climate shifts. |