Dear colleagues
My research team is working on biodiversity of Indian Himalaya. We came across lots of variations both in terms of qualitative as well as quantitative characters of species coupled in huge variation in species composition. Please provide your opinion to gather data on What cause variation in diversity of plants in mountainous belts?
Topography is an important factor. May read this article: https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/119/2/207/2870068
We noted a similar differential in plant biodiversity between the belts in the Apennines mountains in the Italian peninsula. The highest belt, above the tree line, is the most diverse.
Article Fine resolution distribution modelling of endemics in Majell...
There are multiple factors responsible for the dynamics of diversity in mountainous regions e.g., Altitude, topography, temperature, precipitation, forest type, soil etc.
The altitudinal gradient and sub tropical to alpine climate in the Himalayas leads to variation in various abiotic attributes mainly temperature. This variation in climate may result in presence of plants belonging to different climates and eco-regimes together in the Himalaya. Same may be the reason for marvelous phytodiversity in the region.
The variation in diversity of plants in mountainous belts can be caused by a number of factors. One of the most important factors is the variation in climate and temperature with altitude. As altitude increases, temperature and precipitation can change rapidly, creating a variety of different microclimates that can support different plant species . Additionally, the geological history of a mountain range can also play a role in the diversity of plant species. For example, if a mountain range has undergone multiple cycles of glaciation and retreat, this can create a mosaic of different habitats that can support a wide range of plant species . Other factors that can contribute to plant diversity in mountainous regions include soil type, topography, and the presence of other species .
Dear colleagues
Your answers are very general and unreferenced. I wonder whether you have read and critically analysed our referenced paper. I would much appreciate your empirical and referenced comments. There are two issues that have my particular scientific interest.
Our study shows that altitude alone, in this region, is the main predictor of plant endemism. Better than "climate". The issue is that the climate data used are, out of necessity secondary, generated by models from rather scarce point data from meteorological stations. That the climate model output data were shown in our subsequent papers (search: bear and Pinus mugo) from the same area were way of the mark. In contrast, altitude was primary data, actually measured at each pixel/cells. My hypothesis is that this would apply to your mountains regions, particularly because the Himalayas because belongs to the same plant-geographical region as the Apennines and the European Alps.
Secondly, we see in our referenced paper that all endemic plants at high/arctic altitudes in this mountain chain (Apennines) are non-woody. There is only a single endemic tree species in the montane belt. I am curious whether this applies to other mountainous regions. My hypothesis, based on plant geography, would be that in the areas where you work, more than a single endemic tree species occurs in the montane belt. If correct, the relative numbers of endemic plants per altitudinal zone would possibly differ substantially from lour findings.
Looking forward to your referenced responses
Hi!, I share this book chapter about plant diversity in the Andes:Chapter Gradients of plant diversity: local patterns and processes
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