Contrasting multitaxon responses to climate change in Mediterranean mountains.

ABSTRACT: We explored the influence of climatic factors on diversity patterns of multiple taxa (lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants) along a steep elevational gradient to predict communities' dynamics under future climate change scenarios in Mediterranean regions. We analysed (1) species richness patterns in terms of heat-adapted, intermediate, and cold-adapted species; (2) pairwise beta-diversity patterns, also accounting for its two different components, species replacement and richness difference; (3) the influence of climatic variables on species functional traits. Species richness is influenced by different factors between three taxonomic groups, while beta diversity differs mainly between plants and cryptogams. Functional traits are influenced by different factors in each taxonomic group.

SUBMITTER: Di Nuzzo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7904820 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature