Alpine Botany最新文献

{"title":"Native and non-native plant richness and diversity along an elevational gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes","authors":"Isabela Vieira,&nbsp;Ileana Herrera,&nbsp;Anahí Vargas,&nbsp;Kevin Panchana,&nbsp;Andrés Espinoza-Maticurena,&nbsp;Isabella Dillon,&nbsp;Estefany Goncalves,&nbsp;Agustina Barros,&nbsp;José R. Ferrer-Paris,&nbsp;Jordi López-Pujol","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00355-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00355-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ecuador, recognized as a megadiverse country, faces growing threats from biological invasions, particularly in the mountainous ecosystems of the Andes. We described patterns of native and non-native plant richness and diversity along an elevational gradient (2,000–4,400 m a.s.l.) on the Tungurahua volcano, testing whether patterns of non-native plant diversity are consistent with directional environmental filtering along the gradient or explained by the effects of residence time, climate-matching, and disturbance intensity. Twenty-five 10 × 2 m transects were established at 100-m elevational intervals following a MIREN-T-adapted protocol. Vegetation cover, abundance, and disturbance were recorded in each plot. A total of 247 taxa were identified, distributed across 75 families and 171 genera. Of these, 180 were native (including 11 endemic), 38 non-native, and the remainder of undetermined origin. Non-native taxa were predominantly herbaceous and originated from Africa, Europe, and Asia. Along the gradient, non-native taxa were concentrated at lower elevations, with narrower elevational ranges and lower maximum elevations than native taxa. Native richness exhibited a mid-elevation peak (~ 3,400 m), whereas non-native richness declined steadily with elevation. Alpha diversity decreased with elevation in both groups, but sharply in non-natives. Beta diversity analyses showed higher turnover among native assemblages, while non-native communities were more homogeneous along the gradient. Overall, these patterns support the directional environmental filtering hypothesis, with climatic constraints limiting the upslope expansion of non-native taxa and weaker evidence for effects of residence time, climate-matching, or disturbance intensity. These findings provide key insights for the management and conservation of tropical mountain ecosystems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"131 - 148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00035-026-00355-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Directional selection on single traits is the most prevalent mode of selection on floral traits in seven Primula species","authors":"Ni-Wen Zhang,&nbsp;Xu-Yu Duan,&nbsp;Yong-Peng Cha,&nbsp;Yun Wu","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00354-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00354-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Most studies of natural selection acting on floral traits only quantify selection pressures within a single species. The lack of complete estimation of the three patterns of selection (directional, quadratic and correlational) in a large array of related species limits our understanding of which pattern of selection operates most commonly or exerts the strongest influence in this process. We quantified these three patterns of selection on three single traits (corolla size, corolla tube length and number of flowers) and all possible trait combinations across seven <i>Primula</i> species. The results indicated that directional selection for a greater number of flowers was detected for all seven <i>Primula</i> species, whereas selection for a shorter corolla tube length was detected only in <i>Primula alpicola</i>. By contrast, quadratic selection on number of flowers and correlational selection on the combination of corolla size and number of flowers and on the combination of corolla tube length and number of flowers was detected only in <i>P. florindae</i> and <i>P. cawdoriana</i>, respectively. These findings illustrate the contributions of different patterns of selection on floral traits and highlight that directional selection is more common and robust than quadratic or correlational selection on floral traits in these primrose species.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"55 - 66"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Divergent foliar trait responses to elevation in sympatric Mexican alpine pines","authors":"Nereyda Cruz-Maldonado,&nbsp;Homero Garate-Escamilla,&nbsp;Guillermo Angeles-Álvarez,&nbsp;Jorge Omar López-Martínez,&nbsp;Fabien Charbonnier","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00352-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00352-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examines functional trait variation in two sympatric Mexican alpine pines (<i>Pinus culminicola</i> and <i>Pinus hartwegii</i>) along an elevational gradient (2900–3700 m a.s.l.) on Cerro El Potosí, Nuevo León, Mexico. Five foliar traits (thickness, area, dry matter content, succulence, and specific leaf area) were measured in 25 <i>Pinus hartwegii</i> individuals (five elevations) and 15 <i>Pinus culminicola</i> individuals (three elevations) following standardized protocols. <i>P. culminicola</i> exhibited coordinated trait variation with elevation: needle thickness increased 23%, succulence increased 168%, while specific leaf area decreased 14% and dry matter content decreased 33%. Intra-specific variability decreased at higher elevations for most traits. In contrast, <i>P. hartwegii</i> maintained stable trait values across elevations for four of five traits, with only needle area showing a quadratic response (peak at mid-elevations, -32% at 3700 m). <i>P. hartwegii</i> exhibited needles 4.6 times larger and 18% higher SLA, while <i>P. culminicola</i> showed 39% higher dry matter content. We tested whether these differences reflect lineage-level patterns (Diploxylon vs. Haploxylon). Global analysis of 10 montane pine species revealed no consistent lineage-level patterns in trait-elevation relationships, with within-species variation often exceeding between-lineage differences. These contrasting responses to elevation—phenotypic stability in the widespread <i>P. hartwegii</i> versus coordinated trait changes in the endemic <i>P. culminicola</i>—illustrate the complexity of functional trait evolution in alpine environments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"113 - 129"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Germination responses to temperature are not linked to elevation vegetational belts in alpine species of the Andes of central Chile","authors":"Lohengrin A. Cavieres","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00353-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00353-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Temperature is a major environmental cue for seed germination in alpine plant species, where high temperatures tend to promote seed germination. However, the extent to which germination responses to temperature differs between vegetation belts remains poorly studied, especially along elevational gradients in the temperate Andes. We quantified germination across three fluctuating temperature regimes (10/5° C, 20/10° C, 25/15° C) on 21 species representative of the Low- and High-Andean vegetation belts of central Chile. Using mixed-effects models with species as a random factor, we evaluated how temperature, vegetation belt, and their interaction influence final germination percentage and germination speed. Temperature significantly affected germination dynamics, with faster germination generally occurring under intermediate thermal conditions. In contrast, neither vegetation belt nor the belt × temperature interaction exerted significant effects on final germination or germination speed, indicating that elevational zone alone does not structure thermal germination niches. Species identity accounted for the largest portion of variance in both metrics, indicating intrinsic differences in germination responses. Classification of species into thermal response categories (cold-optimized, intermediate-temperature specialists, warm-enhanced germinators, and broad-temperature generalists) showed that all categories were represented in both vegetation belts. This lack of elevational segregation suggests that germination responses to temperature are not determinant on the elevational distribution in the central Chilean Andes. The facts that temperature influences germination speed more consistently than total germination, and that species-specific effects dominate germination responses suggest that climatic warming may differentially alter germination phenology among coexisting Andean species without uniformly increasing germination success.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"101 - 111"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Positive and negative plant–plant interactions influence seedling establishment at both high and low elevations","authors":"Chantal M. Hischier,&nbsp;Janneke Hille Ris Lambers,&nbsp;Evelin Iseli,&nbsp;Jake M. Alexander","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00350-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00350-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"165 - 166"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00035-026-00350-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sap flow characteristics and canopy transpiration of Alnus alnobetula within the treeline ecotone of the Central Tyrolean Alps","authors":"Gerhard Wieser,&nbsp;Walter Oberhuber,&nbsp;Andreas Gruber","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00351-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00351-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Throughout two investigation periods, we estimated the canopy transpiration, understory evapotranspiration and total stand water use of <i>Alnus alnobetula</i> at three stands within the treeline ecotone of the Central Austrian Alps. Our study included one site at the lower edge of the treeline ecotone and two plots at the tree limit: one north-facing leeward and one south-east facing windward. Canopy transpiration (<i>T</i>_<i>c</i>) was estimated at each site by taking sap flow measurements on six stems and scaling them up to stand canopy level. Understory and soil evapotranspiration (<i>ET</i>_<i>u</i>) were derived using the soil water budget method. Throughout the treeline ecotone, normalized sap flow density was significantly correlated with solar radiation and vapour pressure deficit. By contrast, soil water content had no effect on normalised sap flow density, suggesting that <i>A. alnobetula</i> is highly tolerant of the limited soil water availability in the topsoil. Our estimated total stand evapotranspiration (<i>ET</i>_<i>to</i>t = <i>T</i>_<i>c</i> + <i>ET</i>_<i>u</i>) for the treeline ecotone on Mt. Patscherkofel averaged 4.3 ± 0.6 mm per day, while <i>T</i>_<i>c</i> averaged 3.6 ± 0.5 mm per day. These values considerably exceed the means reported for the growing season of adjacent isolated <i>Pinus cembra</i> trees, dwarf shrub communities, and grasslands, and should be taken into account when forecasting the potential effects of shrub encroachment on the water balance of the treeline ecotone.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"79 - 89"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00035-026-00351-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic diversity and environmental adaptation mechanisms of Caragana roborovskyi Kom. In arid Northwestern china: multi-scale evidence from population genomics and niche modeling","authors":"Ning Yao,&nbsp;Fei Ma,&nbsp;Wangli Liang,&nbsp;Jianzhong Gao,&nbsp;Lingxia Wang,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Wenyu Liang,&nbsp;Tingting Xu","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00348-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00348-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Caragana roborovskyi</i> is prevalent in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China, demonstrating a strong adaptation to extreme habitats. However, the population genetic differentiation and molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation to diverse environments remain unclear. This study integrated multi-scale environmental sampling, population genetics analysis, and ecological niche modeling to investigate the genetic structure and adaptive mechanisms of <i>Caragana roborovskyi</i>. The results revealed high genetic diversity within populations and frequent gene flow among them. Gradient forest and redundancy analyses indicated that genetic variation was closely associated with environmental factors such as BIO3, BIO1, BIO10,and UV-B radiation, underscoring the role of environmental filtering in driving genetic differentiation. MaxEnt modeling suggested that the Hexi Corridor-Qilian Mountains region may have served as a glacial refuge for this species. Overall, the study elucidated the genetic responses of <i>Caragana roborovskyi</i> to Quaternary climate changes and recent environmental gradients. It confirmed that populations can evolve environmental adaptability by maintaining high genetic diversity, despite gene flow. These findings provide new insights into the adaptation mechanisms of desert plants and support the conservation and utilization of germplasm resources from <i>Caragana</i> species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"41 - 54"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-altitude adaptation in Artemisia: a multi-level integrated synthesis","authors":"Bushra Quyoom,&nbsp;Tariq Bashir Rather,&nbsp;Bilal Ahmad Mir,&nbsp;Latif Ahmad Peer","doi":"10.1007/s00035-026-00349-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-026-00349-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>High-altitude environments constitute a multifaceted stress matrix characterized by the convergence of intense ultraviolet radiation, severe diurnal temperature fluctuations, and hypobaric hypoxia. However, the genus <i>Artemisia</i> has not only colonised but also thrived in these habitats worldwide. Traditional research, which has focused on cataloguing isolated traits, has failed to explain the synergistic resilience observed in these plants. This review provides a multi-level integrated synthesis of global research on alpine <i>Artemisia</i>, framing adaptation as an emergent property of a dynamic, multi-level system. We demonstrate that the survival of these species is orchestrated by a dynamic system spanning four organizational levels: a foundational genomic and phylogeographic scaffold; a core physiological and metabolic network managing strategic resource trade-offs; a protective suite of engineered morphological traits; and a regulatory interface in which transcription factor networks integrate environmental signals. We present compelling evidence of this integration, from the precise metabolic reallocation in <i>Artemisia brevifolia</i> to the molecular cascades, such as the <i>AabHLH112-AaERF1</i> module in cold adaptation, which orchestrate a system-wide response. This synthesis resolves disparate findings into a unified paradigm, revealing adaptation as an emergent property of an interconnected system. By shifting the focus from isolated traits to their functional integration, this synthesis provides a framework for identifying vulnerabilities and informing strategies to enhance the resilience of alpine biodiversity, such as assisted migration or targeted conservation of critical refugia in the face of rapid climate change.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"27 - 39"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moss-driven facilitation promotes species coexistence in Andean páramo peatlands","authors":"Liz Ávila-Rodríguez,&nbsp;Clara Tinoco-Ojanguren,&nbsp;Miguel Martínez-Ramos,&nbsp;Tania Sánchez-Ortiz,&nbsp;Alfonso Valiente-Banuet","doi":"10.1007/s00035-025-00347-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-025-00347-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Andean páramo peatlands are fragile high-altitude ecosystems characterized by frequent fog, intense seasonal solar radiation, strong daily temperature fluctuations, water saturation, and nutrient scarcity. These extreme conditions make them ideal systems for examining facilitative plant interactions and their influence on microclimate, soil nutrient dynamics, and biodiversity. We recorded 65 plant species and 5,368 individuals; 54% of the species and 89% of the individuals occurred on moss-dominated hummocks that covered only 29% of the surface. These structures, supported by the bamboo <i>Chusquea tessellata</i>, host extensive mats of <i>Sphagnum magellanicum</i>, <i>Kurzia capillaris</i>, <i>Breutelia squarrosa</i>, and <i>S. cuspidatum</i>. Strong species co-occurrence within these microhabitats suggests that there are positive interactions among mosses, liverworts, and vascular plants. At the hummock scale, we identified 5,299 species associations and nine non-vascular species acting as potential facilitators. Generalized linear models showed that non-vascular richness significantly predicted vascular diversity, particularly in combination with hummock area. By forming the basal substrate, mosses and liverworts regulate key ecological processes, such as water capture, infiltration, and nutrient cycling. Vertically structured assemblages played complementary roles: basal and middle layers dominated by <i>K. capillaris</i>, <i>S. cuspidatum</i>, and <i>B. squarrosa</i> enriched soils with nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon; <i>S. magellanicum</i>, typically found in intermediate layers, buffered temperature; and upper <i>Frullania convoluta</i> cushions increased relative humidity during dry periods, while basal strata retained moisture. These findings demonstrate that moss-mediated interactions shape species-rich microsites, providing insights into biodiversity conservation and the restoration of Andean peatlands.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"149 - 164"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00035-025-00347-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trade-offs between extreme-temperature tolerance, avoidance and facilitation in tropical alpine plants","authors":"Carlos Martorell,&nbsp;Fabien Anthelme,&nbsp;Hugo Tovar,&nbsp;Flor Vega-Ramos","doi":"10.1007/s00035-025-00345-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00035-025-00345-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Alpine plants resist extremely high and low temperatures by either tolerance or avoidance, which depend mostly on physiology or growth forms, respectively. Facilitation by neighboring species that buffer extreme temperatures can also be envisaged as avoidance. We tested whether avoidance capacity differs among growth forms; whether there is an avoidance-tolerance trade-off both across species and growth-forms; and if species with low avoidance or tolerance depend most on facilitation. In 35 tropical-alpine species with five growth forms, we measured avoidance as the capacity to buffer high- and low-air temperatures (i.e., as differences between plant and air temperature), and cold tolerance as the temperature that damages half of the leaf surface. We used spatial associations between species as a proxy for facilitation. Thermal-avoidance capacity differed among growth forms. Rather than avoiding high temperatures, leaves warmed above air temperature during the day perhaps enhancing photosynthesis. However, such warming was associated to increased chances of nighttime freezing. The avoidance-tolerance trade-off was confirmed. As expected, the least tolerant species were more associated to nurse plants. However, this was also the case of the best avoiders, which should resist on their own. By linking facilitation with insights from the avoidance-tolerance framework, we found that trade-offs drive alpine-plant strategies to form a continuum between two extremes: Mats warm-up and cool-down rapidly, perhaps increasing photosynthesis but investing more on cold-tolerance mechanisms. At the other extreme, shrubs avoid extreme temperatures but they might not reach optimal photosynthetic temperatures and depend on facilitation during establishment when they are still morphologically immature.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51238,"journal":{"name":"Alpine Botany","volume":"136 1","pages":"15 - 26"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00035-025-00345-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}