Climate-driven elevational variation in range sizes of vascular plants in the central Himalayas: A supporting case for Rapoport's rule.

ABSTRACT: A fundamental yet controversial topic in biogeography is how and why species range sizes vary along spatial gradients. To advance our understanding of these questions and to provide insights into biological conservation, we assessed elevational variations in the range sizes of vascular plants with different life forms and biogeographical affinities and explored the main drivers underlying these variations in the longest valley in China's Himalayas, the Gyirong Valley. Elevational range sizes of vascular plants were documented in 96 sampling plots along an elevational gradient ranging from 1,800 to 5,400 m above sea level. We assessed the elevational variations in range size by averaging the range sizes of all recorded species within each sampling plot. We then related the range size to cli

SUBMITTER: Liang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8293715 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature