Beringian climate during intercontinental dispersal: a mouse eye view

Microtine rodents (meadow mice [ = voles], muskrats, and lemmings) have evo lved so rapidly over the past 5 Ma that they can be correlated with specifi c climatic events and their habitats are so specific that they suggest clim atic conditions in different areas at the time. Examination of these record s not only provides strong evidence of the nature of climate over North Ame rica and the Bering Land Bridge, but also suggests some unconventional reas ons for the development of continental glaciation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.