DOI: 10.5061/dryad.7m0cfxq4k
title: Data from: Ecological responses of <em>Orientallactaga sibirica</em>: Variations in body size and trophic niche across changing habitats

description: In arid ecosystems, precipitation and temperature are two
 key factors, with altitude further shaping habitat conditions
 through its regulatory effects on temperature. These environmental
 variables interact with habitat resource distribution,
 which significantly affects animal morphology, behavior, and
 ecological interactions, including food availability, body size, migration
 patterns, competitive dynamics, and shelter utilization. However, existing
 research predominantly focuses on small-scale and localized climatic
 impacts, lacking comprehensive explanations for large-scale, with multiple
 ecological responses. As a widely distributed rodent in arid
 environments, Orientallactaga sibirica serves as an effective
 bioindicator of climate and habitat resource variations. This study
 investigates the effects of climate change and habitat resource
 heterogeneity on O. sibirica by analyzing its body size and
 trophic niche through field surveys and stable isotope techniques. Climate
 data, altitude, and fractional vegetation
 cover (FVC) were integrated to explore the underlying
 mechanisms driving these variations. The results reveal
 significant variability in O. sibirica body size across different
 habitat conditions. Individuals inhabiting the mid-temperate semi-humid
 zone, the plateau temperate semi-arid zone, and high-altitude regions
 exhibited significantly larger body sizes compared to those in other
 climatic regions. Body size demonstrated a significant linear decline with
 increasing mean annual temperature, while it exhibited a significant
 linear increase with rising altitude, annual precipitation, and FVC. The
 trophic niche width of O. sibirica varied across habitat types,
 being widest in the warm-temperate semi-humid zone and at
 mid-altitudes. Segmented structural equation modeling revealed
 that elevation and mean annual temperature exerted significant
 negative effects on O. sibirica body size by affecting FVC,
 whereas annual precipitation had a significant positive
 effect on body size, mediated through FVC. These results
 highlight the complex interactions between climatic factors and habitat
 conditions in shaping the morphological and ecological adaptations of O.
 sibirica, providing valuable insights into species responses to
 environmental change in arid ecosystems.
description: # Ecological responses of *Orientallactaga sibirica*: Variations in body
 size and trophic niche across changing habitats
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7m0cfxq4k](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7m0cfxq4k) ## Description of the data and file structure Habitat condition data and animal sample data of *Orientallactaga sibirica.* ### Files and variables Data1.csv：Habitat condition data and animal sample data of *Orientallactaga sibirica*; | Column name | Implication | Unit | Missing value table | | :------------ | :-------------------------------------------------- | :--- | :------------------ | | Altitude | Sampling site elevation | m | nil | | Temperature | Mean annual temperature at the site | °C | nil | | Precipitation | Mean annual precipitation at the site | mm | nil | | Fvc | Ractional vegetation cover | nil | nil | | Body Weight | Individual body mass (Direct weighing in the field) | g | nil | | Body Length | Individual body length (snout–vent length) | mm | nil | | δ^15^N | Bone δ^15^N | nil | nil | | δ^13^C | Bone δ^13^C | nil | nil | | Sex | Sex of captured individuals | nil | nil | Data2.csv：Baseline biological data. isotope ratios ‰ | Column name | Implication | Unit | Missing value table | | :---------------- | :---------------------- | :--- | :------------------ | | Stipa breviflora | baseline organisms | nil | nil | | δ^13^C | Stipa brevifloraδ^13^C | nil | nil | | δ^15^N | Stipa brevifloraδ^15^N | nil | nil | | Artemisia frigida | baseline organisms | nil | nil | | δ^13^C | Artemisia frigidaδ^13^C | nil | nil | | δ^15^N | Artemisia frigidaδ^15^N | nil | nil | ## **Code/software** SIBER: Nutrient niche calculation code. Piecewise SEM: Piecewise Structural Equation Modeling code. GLMM: Generalized linear mixed model  code. ## Access information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * n/a Data was derived from the following sources: * n/a