Woody species of Rhododendron all showed upper range contraction but upward shift in the center of maximum abundance/optimum temperature for R. arboreum but downward shift for R. barbatum and R. campanalutum.
What may cause both upward and downward shift in temperature optima / center of maximum abundance of different species of same genus along mountain gradient?
Your question, if understood well, has fascinated me for years. I would appreciate to see your response graphs. In our plant research (Majella, Italy) we obtained a range of response curves for 48 herbaceous plants against environmental variables including elevation. Very few were approximately bell-shaped uni-modal. In our animal research (bear) in the same area, we found more bell-shaped curves against elevation as well as climate variables.
Hein Gils , here is the response curve of A. griffithii . I would love to read the conclusions you draw from research on those 48 herbaceous species. Is it that most herbaceous species do not show unimodal response , if yes,what could be the reason for the varying response of these species?
There i a vast literature about SRFs, but still no sound theoretical base. See e.g., Austin 2013 J. Veg. Sci. 24 (2): 251- 268
Austin 2011
Austin 2009
Temperature, precipitation, provided that soil conditions are constant
Sometimes the mist induced by the orographic lift of air masses can create a visible vegetation belt on altitudinal gradients.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Climate Science
- Climate Change