Global patterns and drivers of alpine plant species richness

Aim Alpine ecosystems differ in area, macroenvironment and biogeographical history across the Earth, but the relationship between these factors and plant species richness is still unexplored. Here, we assess the global patterns of plant species richness in alpine ecosystems and their association with environmental, geographical and historical factors at regional and community scales. Location Global. Time period Data collected between 1923 and 2019. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We used a dataset representative of global alpine vegetation, consisting of 8,928 plots sampled within 26 ecoregions and six biogeographical realms, to estimate regional richness using sample‐based rarefaction and extrapolation. Then, we evaluated latitudinal patterns of regional and community richness with generalized additive models. Using environmental, geographical and historical predictors from global raster layers, we modelled regional and community richness in a mixed‐effect modelling framework. Results The latitudinal pattern of regional richness peaked around the equator and at mid‐latitudes, in response to current and past alpine area, isolation and the variation in soil pH among regions. At the community level, species richness peaked at mid‐latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, despite a considerable within‐region variation. Community richness was related to macroclimate and historical predictors, with strong effects of other spatially structured factors. Main conclusions In contrast to the well‐known latitudinal diversity gradient, the alpine plant species richness of some temperate regions in Eurasia was comparable to that of hyperdiverse tropical ecosystems, such as the páramo. The species richness of these putative hotspot regions is explained mainly by the extent of alpine area and their glacial history, whereas community richness depends on local environmental factors. Our results highlight hotspots of species richness at mid‐latitudes, indicating that the diversity of alpine plants is linked to regional idiosyncrasies and to the historical prevalence of alpine ecosystems, rather than current macroclimatic gradients

Cryopetrophytic communities of the Altai-Sayan mountain system

Floristic classification of the cryopetrophytic alpine communities of the Altai-Sayan mountain system have been performed. The Rhodioletea quadrifidae Hilbig 2000 class of the Altai-Sayan mountain system includes two order, one alliance and six associations. We were described new order (Valerianetaliapetrophyllae order nova prov.) and three associations (Ranunculo akkemensis-Valerianetumpetrophilae ass. nova prov., Mesostemmo martjanovii-Leiosporetum exscapae ass. nova prov., Potentillo biflorae-Sibbaldietum tetrandrae ass. nova prov.) These associations include communities with a predominance of Asian alpine and arctalpine petrophytes

The ontogeny and the demographic structure of the coenopopulations of the species

The article presents the results of the analysis of the demographic structure of ten coenotic populations of Oxytropis chakassiensis in near-Yenissei steppes (Khakassia and Krasnoyarsk krai). Most part of studied species coenopopulations are not complete and definitive, normal, mature, have a bimodal developmental spectrum with peaks at g1 (v)- and g3-individuals. Changes in the structure of the ontogenetic spectrum (increasing the share of young plants) depend mainly on the environmental conditions and the degree of human disturbance of habitats: rocky slopes and decrease in pasture digression create more favorable conditions for the survival of juveniles. The ontogeny of O. chakassiensis (the rare species of near-Yenissei steppes) was studied and its life- form was described. Four periods and nine ontogenic stages were distinguished. The results of our study showed that O. chakassiensisis was a petrophyte steppe species with strict ecological and cenotic propensity to petrophytic steppe with the prevalence Koeleria cristata, Festuca valesiaca, Arctogeron gramineum, Hedysarum turczaninovii, Alyssum obovatum and Thymus minussinensis. Due to long generative period O. chakassiensis is successfully renewed and is stable during long periods of extreme conditions of petrophytic steppes with high pasture digression

Shrub and dwarf shrub communities of Sangilen Plateau

The paper presents a detailed ecological and caenotic characteristic of dwarf shrub and shrub communities growing in the highmountain belt of the Sangilen Plateau. The communities investigated were referred to the class of Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea Eggler 1952. The dwarf birch thickets with prevalence of Betula rotundifolia and the high incidence of Caragana jubata, Juniperus pseudosabina, J. sibirica, Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Salix glauca, Spiraea alpina were referred to the union of Carici tristis–Betulion rotundifoliae Zibzeev et al. 2018 of the order of Betuletalia rotundifoliae Mirkin at al. ex Chytrý Pešout et Anenkhonov 1993. Communities with dominant calciphilous shrubs and dwarf shrubs, such as Rhododendron adamsii, Caragana jubata, Salix berberifolia, S. reticulata, were referred to the union of Saxifrago oppositifoliae–Rhododendrion adamsii Zibzeev et al. 2018 of the order of Rhododendro-Vaccinietalia Br.-Bl. ex Daniels 1994

Ontogenetic Structure of the Coenopopulations Hedysarum Theinum (Fabaceae) in the Different Ecological and Coenotic Conditions of the Rudny Altai

В статье представлены результаты анализа онтогенетической структуры 10 ценопопуляций Hedysarum theinum Krasnob. в условиях высокогорий Рудного Алтая. Выявлено, что ценотический оптимум H. theinum находится в высокотравных сообществах субальпийского пояса. Сравнительный анализ ценопопуляций (ЦП) H. theinum свидетельствует об их устойчивом состоянии в природных ценозах Ивановского и Проходного хребтов. Популяционного оптимума ЦП H. theinum могут достигать как в фитоценотическом оптимуме, так и в крайних условиях обитания (альпийские луга). Реальный организменный оптимум совпадает с ценотическим. Таким образом, в сообществах полидоминантного высокотравья особи H. theinum обладают наибольшей мощностью и высокой семенной продуктивностью.H. theinum - is the integral element of communities of a subalpine belt humid high mountains of the Central and Western Altai. The coenotical optimum H. theinum is in conditions toll-forbs communities of a subalpine belt. The comparative analysis coenopopulations H. theinum testifies to their steady condition in natural communities the Ivanovsky and Prohodnoy ridges. Populations an optimum of H. theinum can achieve both in conditions coenotical an optimum, and in extreme conditions of the alpine meadows. Real organismic the optimum coincides with coenotical optimum. Here, in communities polydominant toll-forbs individuals H. theinum possess the greatest capacity and high seed efficiency

Ontogenetic Structure of the Coenopopulations Hedysarum Theinum (Fabaceae) in the Different Ecological and Coenotic Conditions of the Rudny Altai

В статье представлены результаты анализа онтогенетической структуры 10 ценопопуляций Hedysarum theinum Krasnob. в условиях высокогорий Рудного Алтая. Выявлено, что ценотический оптимум H. theinum находится в высокотравных сообществах субальпийского пояса. Сравнительный анализ ценопопуляций (ЦП) H. theinum свидетельствует об их устойчивом состоянии в природных ценозах Ивановского и Проходного хребтов. Популяционного оптимума ЦП H. theinum могут достигать как в фитоценотическом оптимуме, так и в крайних условиях обитания (альпийские луга). Реальный организменный оптимум совпадает с ценотическим. Таким образом, в сообществах полидоминантного высокотравья особи H. theinum обладают наибольшей мощностью и высокой семенной продуктивностью.H. theinum - is the integral element of communities of a subalpine belt humid high mountains of the Central and Western Altai. The coenotical optimum H. theinum is in conditions toll-forbs communities of a subalpine belt. The comparative analysis coenopopulations H. theinum testifies to their steady condition in natural communities the Ivanovsky and Prohodnoy ridges. Populations an optimum of H. theinum can achieve both in conditions coenotical an optimum, and in extreme conditions of the alpine meadows. Real organismic the optimum coincides with coenotical optimum. Here, in communities polydominant toll-forbs individuals H. theinum possess the greatest capacity and high seed efficiency

Global functional variation in alpine vegetation

Questions: What are the functional trade-offs of vascular plant species in global alpine ecosystems? How is functional variation related to vegetation zones, climatic groups and biogeographic realms? What is the relative contribution of macroclimate and evolutionary history in shaping the functional variation of alpine plant communities? Location: Global. Methods: We compiled a data set of alpine vegetation with 5,532 geo-referenced plots, 1,933 species and six plant functional traits. We used principal component analysis to quantify functional trade-offs among species and trait probability density to assess the functional dissimilarity of alpine vegetation in different vegetation zones, climatic groups and biogeographic realms. We used multiple regression on distance matrices to model community functional dissimilarity against environmental and phylogenetic dissimilarity, controlling for geographic distance. Results: The first two PCA axes explained 66% of the species’ functional variation and were related to the leaf and stem economic spectra, respectively. Trait probability density was largely independent of vegetation zone and macroclimate but differed across biogeographic realms. The same pattern emerged for both species pool and community levels. The effects of environmental and phylogenetic dissimilarities on community functional dissimilarity had similar magnitude, while the effect of geographic distance was negligible. Conclusions: Plant species in alpine areas reflect the global variation of plant function, but with a predominant role of resource use strategies. Current macroclimate exerts a limited effect on alpine vegetation, mostly acting at the community level in combination with evolutionary history. Global alpine vegetation is functionally unrelated to the vegetation zones in which it is embedded, exhibiting strong functional convergence across regions

Global patterns and drivers of alpine plant species richness

Aim Alpine ecosystems differ in area, macroenvironment and biogeographical history across the Earth, but the relationship between these factors and plant species richness is still unexplored. Here, we assess the global patterns of plant species richness in alpine ecosystems and their association with environmental, geographical and historical factors at regional and community scales. Location Global. Time period Data collected between 1923 and 2019. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We used a dataset representative of global alpine vegetation, consisting of 8,928 plots sampled within 26 ecoregions and six biogeographical realms, to estimate regional richness using sample‐based rarefaction and extrapolation. Then, we evaluated latitudinal patterns of regional and community richness with generalized additive models. Using environmental, geographical and historical predictors from global raster layers, we modelled regional and community richness in a mixed‐effect modelling framework. Results The latitudinal pattern of regional richness peaked around the equator and at mid‐latitudes, in response to current and past alpine area, isolation and the variation in soil pH among regions. At the community level, species richness peaked at mid‐latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, despite a considerable within‐region variation. Community richness was related to macroclimate and historical predictors, with strong effects of other spatially structured factors. Main conclusions In contrast to the well‐known latitudinal diversity gradient, the alpine plant species richness of some temperate regions in Eurasia was comparable to that of hyperdiverse tropical ecosystems, such as the páramo. The species richness of these putative hotspot regions is explained mainly by the extent of alpine area and their glacial history, whereas community richness depends on local environmental factors. Our results highlight hotspots of species richness at mid‐latitudes, indicating that the diversity of alpine plants is linked to regional idiosyncrasies and to the historical prevalence of alpine ecosystems, rather than current macroclimatic gradients

Global functional variation in alpine vegetation

Abstract Questions: What are the functional trade-offs of vascular plant species in global alpine ecosystems? How is functional variation related to vegetation zones, climatic groups and biogeographic realms? What is the relative contribution of macroclimate and evolutionary history in shaping the functional variation of alpine plant communities? Location: Global. Methods: We compiled a data set of alpine vegetation with 5,532 geo-referenced plots, 1,933 species and six plant functional traits. We used principal component analysis to quantify functional trade-offs among species and trait probability density to assess the functional dissimilarity of alpine vegetation in different vegetation zones, climatic groups and biogeographic realms. We used multiple regression on distance matrices to model community functional dissimilarity against environmental and phylogenetic dissimilarity, controlling for geographic distance. Results: The first two PCA axes explained 66% of the species’ functional variation and were related to the leaf and stem economic spectra, respectively. Trait probability density was largely independent of vegetation zone and macroclimate but differed across biogeographic realms. The same pattern emerged for both species pool and community levels. The effects of environmental and phylogenetic dissimilarities on community functional dissimilarity had similar magnitude, while the effect of geographic distance was negligible. Conclusions: Plant species in alpine areas reflect the global variation of plant function, but with a predominant role of resource use strategies. Current macroclimate exerts a limited effect on alpine vegetation, mostly acting at the community level in combination with evolutionary history. Global alpine vegetation is functionally unrelated to the vegetation zones in which it is embedded, exhibiting strong functional convergence across regions

Global patterns and drivers of alpine plant species richness

Abstract Aim: Alpine ecosystems differ in area, macroenvironment and biogeographical history across the Earth, but the relationship between these factors and plant species richness is still unexplored. Here, we assess the global patterns of plant species richness in alpine ecosystems and their association with environmental, geographical and historical factors at regional and community scales. Location: Global. Time period: Data collected between 1923 and 2019. Major taxa studied: Vascular plants. Methods: We used a dataset representative of global alpine vegetation, consisting of 8,928 plots sampled within 26 ecoregions and six biogeographical realms, to estimate regional richness using sample-based rarefaction and extrapolation. Then, we evaluated latitudinal patterns of regional and community richness with generalized additive models. Using environmental, geographical and historical predictors from global raster layers, we modelled regional and community richness in a mixed-effect modelling framework. Results: The latitudinal pattern of regional richness peaked around the equator and at mid-latitudes, in response to current and past alpine area, isolation and the variation in soil pH among regions. At the community level, species richness peaked at mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, despite a considerable within-region variation. Community richness was related to macroclimate and historical predictors, with strong effects of other spatially structured factors. Main conclusions: In contrast to the well-known latitudinal diversity gradient, the alpine plant species richness of some temperate regions in Eurasia was comparable to that of hyperdiverse tropical ecosystems, such as the páramo. The species richness of these putative hotspot regions is explained mainly by the extent of alpine area and their glacial history, whereas community richness depends on local environmental factors. Our results highlight hotspots of species richness at mid-latitudes, indicating that the diversity of alpine plants is linked to regional idiosyncrasies and to the historical prevalence of alpine ecosystems, rather than current macroclimatic gradients