Environmental Limitations and Interspecific Interactions Across the Distribution Range of Gerbils

To elucidate the environmental adaptability and interspecific relationships of gerbil species, we analyzed the distribution data of seven species using the Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt) and Joint Species Distribution Models (JSDMs) in relation to environmental variables. The MaxEnt results indicated high model accuracy, with training area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.939 to 0.998 and testing AUC values ranging from 0.896 to 0.994. Except for Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) AUC indicating "good" performance, all species reached an "excellent" level of accuracy; model accuracy evaluation showed that the training TSS values ranged from 0.339 to 0.841 and the testing TSS values from 0.319 to 0.960, indicating good predictive performance. Jackknife tests revealed substantial interspecific differences in responses to environmental variables. Precipitation-related factors (bio12, bio13, bio14, bio18, bio19) and temperature-related factors (bio4, bio5, bio6, bio7, bio9) were the primary drivers of species distributions, while topographic variables (slope, aspect, elevation) and anthropogenic factors also played important roles. The JSDMs analysis further highlighted species-specific responses to environmental factors and uncovered strong residual correlations among species. Notably, Mid-day Gerbil (Meriones meridianus) and Libyan Jird (Meriones libycus) (-0.91), as well as Mongolian Gerbil and Great Gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) (-0.82), exhibited significant exclusionary relationships. In contrast, Tamarisk Gerbil (Meriones tamariscinus) and Przewalski's Jird (Brachiones przewalskii) (0.72), as well as Tamarisk Gerbil and Mid-day Gerbil (0.66), showed evidence of positive associations. In summary, this study not only clarifies the environmental adaptability of gerbil rodents in the arid regions of Central Asia but also reveals their potential interspecific interaction mechanisms. These findings provide new insights into the dynamics of desert rodent communities and offer valuable implications for the management of rodent pests in arid ecosystems.