Spatiotemporal, Microhabitat, and Climatic Variance in Disjunct Populations of Co-occurring Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Dwelling Chipmunks and Brushmice.

), which coexist within mature multi-age stands of pinyon-juniper woodland. We evaluated variance in the spatiotemporal regimes of these two species in response to: 1) seasonal area climate, 2) microhabitat use; 3) reproductive output; and 4) estimates of population density. Results of our analysis showed that theoretical density plots and spatial structure of live-trap quadrat data were non-normally distributed for both species. Microhabitat use in each taxon was primarily associated with limestone escarpmentcliff edges and rock outcrops, particularly in chipmunks. Density estimates closely mimicked variance in seasonal climate but with some differences between species. Redundancy analysis showed that drivers of spatiotemporal patterns in these small mammals was predominantly due to seasonal variance in temperature, solar radiation, and humidity during summer, spring, and early fall. Because conservation of mature stands of pinyon-juniper woodlands and relic montane forest represent critical challenges for contemporary and future management of endemic species in these refugial ecosystems, our archival ecological data may facilitate understanding of the dynamics of ecosystem function, uncover legacy effect, and provide a reference for crafting contemporary management and future conservation goals, particularly in the era of rapid climate.