A plot-based elevational assessment of species densities, life forms and leaf traits of seed plants in the south-eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, North Myanmar
P. Nowak, P. K. Khine, J. Homeier, C. Leuschner, G. Miehe, Jürgen Kluge
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background : Species density along elevation gradients often shows hump-shaped patterns, but in-depth data for Myanmar is still not available. Aim : The first plot-based study to detect the elevational patterns of life forms and tree leaf traits, and their relation to environmental factors in Myanmar. Methods : All seed plant species were recorded on 76 plots between 400 and 4100 m. Regression models were used to identify the variables with highest predictive power for species densities of different life forms and leaf traits. Results : Species density showed a linear elevational decline except for grasses (increase) and epiphytes (hump-shaped pattern) and were related to temperature and precipitation in all considered life forms. Tree leaf size, the proportion of species with simple leaves and leaves with drip tips decreased with elevation, while the proportion of toothed leaves increased. Conclusions : Our data partly confirm some widely held assumptions about elevation patterns in species density and leaf traits. While the climatic dependence behaves as expected, leaf traits and lifeforms show mixed and sometimes surprising patterns. Previous knowledge of these patterns is partly confirming, but highly scattered regionally, so our study performed in one region offers a rare opportunity towards a natural history image of a biodiversity hotspot..
期刊介绍:
Plant Ecology and Diversity is an international journal for communicating results and novel ideas in plant science, in print and on-line, six times a year. All areas of plant biology relating to ecology, evolution and diversity are of interest, including those which explicitly deal with today''s highly topical themes, such as biodiversity, conservation and global change. We consider submissions that address fundamental questions which are pertinent to contemporary plant science. Articles concerning extreme environments world-wide are particularly welcome.
Plant Ecology and Diversity considers for publication original research articles, short communications, reviews, and scientific correspondence that explore thought-provoking ideas.
To aid redressing ‘publication bias’ the journal is unique in reporting, in the form of short communications, ‘negative results’ and ‘repeat experiments’ that test ecological theories experimentally, in theoretically flawless and methodologically sound papers. Research reviews and method papers, are also encouraged.
Plant Ecology & Diversity publishes high-quality and topical research that demonstrates solid scholarship. As such, the journal does not publish purely descriptive papers. Submissions are required to focus on research topics that are broad in their scope and thus provide new insights and contribute to theory. The original research should address clear hypotheses that test theory or questions and offer new insights on topics of interest to an international readership.