Christy M. McCain

Assistant Professor

christy.mccain@colorado.edu
303-735-1016
Bruce Curtis E190C (office), Bruce Curtis E266 (lab)
McCain's Lab

Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2003

Research Interests

I am interested in the mechanisms producing and maintaining patterns of species distribution, abundance, and diversity. To address these processes, I consider three levels of ecological organization to be equally important: species-level autecology, population-level dynamics, and community-level processes and interactions. My research so far has highlighted small mammal range dynamics, abundance patterns across altitudinal ranges, and species richness patterns along latitudinal and elevational gradients. I particularly exploit mountain systems as natural experiments to look at how evolutionary history, ecological processes, and future climate change influence species populations. My overarching goal is to strive for quantitative, general theories applicable to both the advancement of ecology and the improvement of our conservation strategies. I use multiple tools at various spatial scales to address research questions, including field studies, synthesis of collection and historical data, comparative analyses, null models, GIS, and simulation modeling.

Recent Publications

Grytnes, J. A. and C. M. McCain. In press (invited article). Elevational patterns in species richness. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (S. Levin, editor), Elsevier, Inc.

McCain, C. M., R. M. Timm, and M. Weksler. 2007. Sigmodontomys aphrastus: Redescription, taxonomic comparison, and natural history. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 120:117–136.

McCain, C. M. 2007. Area and mammalian elevational diversity. Ecology 88:76 –86.

McCain, C. M. 2007. Could temperature and water availability drive elevational diversity? A global case study for bats. Global Ecology and Biogeography 16:1–13 & Cover.

Mittelbach, G.G., D. Schemske, H.V. Cornell, A.P. Allen, J. Brown, M. Bush, S.P. Harrison, A. Hurlbert, N. Knowlton, H.A. Lessios, C. M. McCain, A.R. McCune, L.A. McDade, M.A. McPeek, T.J. Near, T.D. Price, R.E. Ricklefs, K. Roy, D.F. Sax, D. Schluter, J. M. Sobel, and M. Turelli. 2007. Evolution and the latitudinal diversity gradient: speciation, extinction, and biogeography. Ecology Letters 10:315–331.

McCain, C. M. 2006. Do elevational range size, abundance, and body size patterns mirror those documented for geographic ranges? A case study using Costa Rican rodents. Evolutionary Ecology Research 8:435–454.

McCain, C. M. 2005. Elevational gradients in diversity of small mammals. Ecology 86:366–372.

McCain, C. M. 2004. The mid-domain effect applied to elevational gradients: species richness of small mammals in Costa Rica. Journal of Biogeography 31:19–31.

McCain, C. M. 2003. North American desert rodents: a test of the mid-domain effect in species richness. Journal of Mammalogy 84:967–980.