Humboldt's legacy: explaining the influence of environmental factors on the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of angiosperms along a Neotropical elevational gradient.

ABSTRACT: The scientific work of Alexander von Humboldt was influenced by his interaction with the diversity and natural wealth of the Neotropics. He proposed that climate determines plant diversity along elevational gradients based on his observations. Here, we evaluated the most prominent climate-based hypotheses in explaining plant diversity along an elevational gradient that Humboldt himself visited during his journey across Mexico. Specifically, we examined how climatic variables and forest-use intensity affected species richness and phylogenetic structure of major angiosperm life forms (trees, shrubs, epiphytes, herbs and lianas) along the Cofre de Perote mountain, Veracruz, Mexico. We analysed species richness and phylogenetic structure of angiosperms at eight sites between 30 to 3500 m a.s.l

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Diaz JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9840209 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature