| Habitat associations combine with competitive interactions to play an important role in determining the composition and structure of small mammal community assemblages. These associations can mediate responses to climate change and vary across space and through time. Therefore, there is a need for complete studies spanning an entire gradient. To improve our understanding of this relationship, we completed a comprehensive assessment of species habitat associations across an extensive elevation gradient spanning 2,500 meters and eight distinct habitats in southern California. Moreover, we are integrating this assessment with previous survey efforts to evaluate how small mammal communities and their associations have changed. We used 10x10 trapping grids (15-meter spacing) with 12-inch Sherman live traps to survey heteromyid and cricetid rodents in paired sites in eight habitats along this gradient. Preliminary analysis using canonical correspondence analysis, a form of constrained ordination, revealed strong relationships between community assemblages and key habitat metrics such as canopy cover, litter depth, soil hardness, and shrub and herbaceous cover. A greater understanding of community structure and habitat associations is critical to improving our ability to predict the response of small mammal communities to climate change.
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