Different temporal trends in vascular plant and bryophyte communities along elevational gradients over four decades.

ABSTRACT: Despite many studies showing biodiversity responses to warming, the generality of such responses across taxonomic groups remains unclear. Very few studies have tested for evidence of bryophyte community responses to warming, even though bryophytes are major contributors to diversity and functioning in many ecosystems. Here, we report an empirical study comparing long-term change in bryophyte and vascular plant communities in two sites with contrasting long-term warming trends, using "legacy" botanical records as a baseline for comparison with contemporary resurveys. We hypothesized that ecological changes would be greater in sites with a stronger warming trend and that vascular plant communities, with narrower climatic niches, would be more sensitive than bryophyte communities to climate w

SUBMITTER: Becker-Scarpitta A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9395318 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature