Vertebrate species composition of remnant desert islands within central Arizona-Phoenix urban areas: period 1998-1999

Urban growth around Phoenix over the last 30 years has produced numerous isolated "islands" of remnant desert habitat. Each of these remnants has its own unique vertebrate community, determined by the fauna present prior to isolation, area of remaining habitat, vegetation characteristics, time since isolation, and distance to other islands or source populations. These factors can be used as predictors of how future growth will affect potential desert preserves.

过去三十年间，凤凰城周边的城市扩张催生了大量彼此隔绝的残存沙漠生境"孤岛"。每一块残存生境均拥有独特的脊椎动物群落，其组成由隔离前现存的动物区系、残存生境面积、植被特征、隔离时长以及与其他"孤岛"或源种群的距离共同决定。上述因子可作为预测未来城市扩张对潜在沙漠保护地影响的有效指标。