Elevational diversity of terrestrial rainforest herbs: when the whole is less than the sum of its parts

Willinghöfer, Sandra; Cicuzza, Daniele; Kessler, Michael

doi:10.1007/s11258-011-9986-z

Cited by 28 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Even though certain taxonomic groups do not show the general decrease in taxonomic richness with elevation (e.g. Karger et al ., ; Willinghöfer et al ., ), it is safe to conclude that both thermal constraints and reduced surface area available for colonization must result in progressive niche space limitation and increasing phenotypic similarity of the taxa towards higher elevations. The decreasing taxonomic richness with increasing elevation in the tree communities of Borneo and Sulawesi reflects these limitations, whereas the observed growing phylogenetic overdispersion with increasing elevation points to trait conservation in several distant lineages that have successfully adapted to the cool high‐elevation climate or migrated from distant regions with temperate climates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consistent patterns of elevational change in tree taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across Malesian mountain forests

Culmsee

Leuschner

2013

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim In order to investigate the relative importance of ecological (habitat specialization) and biogeographical (speciation, geographical dispersal limitation) processes as causes of non‐random spatial distribution of tree species in the mountain forests of Malesia, we analysed the elevational change in the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of tree assemblages in different biogeographical subregions. Location Malesia (Borneo, Java, Sulawesi and the Philippines). Methods Tree inventory data of 12 old‐growth forests from a wide elevational range (650–3080 m a.s.l.) were taxonomically harmonized and standardized (50 random draws of 245 individuals each per plot), and the phylogeny of 204 genera was resolved and scaled to its evolutionary origin. The taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities were calculated using effective generic measures, and the diversity patterns analysed by regression, ordination and classification. Results The primary factor determining the diversity patterns of the tree assemblages was elevation, whereas the influence of region was surprisingly low. This results in common elevational patterns in taxonomic and phylogenetic community structure across western and central Malesia. The major clades of the contemporary mountain forest trees must therefore have evolved before the formation of the Malay Archipelago in its present form (sympatric speciation). Taxonomic richness and phylogenetic diversity exhibited opposite trends with elevation. Generic richness decreased linearly with elevation; the phylogenetic structure of high‐elevation forests revealed overdispersion, indicating convergent trait evolution towards higher elevations, whereas the submontane and colline assemblages showed clustering with a considerable number of confamilials. The upper montane forests of Borneo and Sulawesi were characterized by the dominance of Southern Hemisphere conifers, which differentiated them from lower‐elevation communities. Main conclusions Our results indicate that ecological, evolutionary and biogeographical processes (environmental filtering, sympatry and long‐distance dispersal) have shaped the contemporary community structure of Malesian mountain forests. Wallace's Line may represent a significant barrier between the lowland tree floras of Borneo and Sulawesi, but this is not true for those at higher elevations. The uniqueness of high‐elevation forests in terms of their high phylogenetic diversity and of their unusual structure calls for a high priority in conservation programmes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consistent patterns of elevational change in tree taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across Malesian mountain forests

Culmsee

Leuschner

2013

Journal of Biogeography

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“…Herbaceous understorey vegetation is considered important for maintaining forest ecosystem services because it accounts for most of the plant richness and affects nutrient cycling (Gilliam, ). Paradoxically, there is a paucity of studies on the response of herb richness to elevation (Sproull, Quigley, Sher, & González, ; Tang & Fang, ; Willinghöfer, Cicuzza, & Kessler, ). In this study, we therefore linked herb richness and functional traits to explore the underlying reason for the elevational pattern of herb richness and developed a set of predictions about changes in individual functional diversity along an elevational gradient (Table ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A trait‐based approach reveals the importance of biotic filter for elevational herb richness pattern

Jiang

Liu

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim To evaluate how a biotic filter (overstorey cover [OC]) shapes an elevational herb richness pattern and to test whether intermediate elevations represent more suitable habitats for herb species due to the minimal biotic and moderate abiotic filtering that occured there. Location Dongling Mountain, China. Taxon Herbs. Methods We sampled herb richness along a 1,000‐m vertical transect (OC and elevation covary) and four horizontal transects (across the OC gradient with no change in elevation). Functional traits related to shade (leaf mass per area [LMA] and leaf stem ratio [LSR]) and freezing tolerance (leaf thickness [LT] and hair density [HD]) were collected based on vegetation sampling plots. We divided the richness data into below‐ and above‐timberline groups and then assessed the most important driver for each group. By estimating the variations in species richness and functional diversity along horizontal transects, we examined how these parameters responded to OC while controlling for associated differences in elevation. Results Herb richness showed a unimodal relationship with elevation, with a peak around the timberline. Below the timberline, herb richness was better predicted by OC and showed a positive relationship with the functional diversity of LMA and LSR. The frost period performed better in predicting herb richness above the timberline, and herb richness was positively related to the functional diversity of HD. Main conclusions The results support our hypothesis and highlight the importance of OC in shaping herb richness patterns. Below the timberline, OC acts as a filter, sorting species based on their ability to tolerate shade, whereas the frost period limits richness above the timberline and favours species that can tolerate low temperatures. Therefore, we suggest that biotic interactions, as well as environmental and geographical factors, should be considered the main drivers of elevational plant richness patterns.

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“…Many herbs distributed in tropical rainforest were also studied e.g. (Sanches & Válio, 2002;Willinghöfer, Cicuzza, & Kessler, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Species Composition and Their Conspecific Association in Natural Tropical Rainforest, South Papua

et al. 2016

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Papua has so many wide lowland areas that cover high diversity in plant from lifeforms. In contrast, there is a lack of information concerning species diversity. The objectives of the research were to describe species of plant life-forms and to analyze conspecific associations between small individuals and large individuals in natural tropical rainforest, south Papua. Then, 46 nested plots were placed systematically in natural tropical rainforest of Boven Digoel Regency, Papua. Density, frequency, dominance and importance value index (IVI) were analyzed to describe plant diversity, while detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was to describe conspecific association between small individuals and large individuals. Results found 2040 individuals in this forest consisting 194 plant species. Those are from pteridophytes, angiosperms and gymnosperms. The plant life-forms are herbs, orchids, palms, pandans, shrubs, rattans, vines and trees in which of the plant life-forms, trees are the most abundant according to number of species. In the dominant plant species, two types of conspecific association occurred between small individuals and large individuals. Analysis of DCA revealed that there are large plant species grow along with their small individuals. Another type is that small individuals grow far from their large individuals.

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Elevational diversity of terrestrial rainforest herbs: when the whole is less than the sum of its parts

Cited by 28 publications

References 57 publications

Consistent patterns of elevational change in tree taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across Malesian mountain forests

Consistent patterns of elevational change in tree taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across Malesian mountain forests

A trait‐based approach reveals the importance of biotic filter for elevational herb richness pattern

Plant Species Composition and Their Conspecific Association in Natural Tropical Rainforest, South Papua

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