Climate stability is more important than water–energy variables in shaping the elevational variation in species richness

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4202
• Publication Date: 2018-06-11T16:16:58Z
• Authors: Jie Gao; Yanhong Liu
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 13. Climate action; 14. Life underwater; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; Original Research

Changes in climate variables have an important impact on the prediction and protection of elevational biodiversity. Gaps exist our understanding distribution patterns seed plant species richness. Our study examines importance shaping variation The boundary constraint was also taken into account. Model selection based Akaike's information criterion used to select best explaining models. Variation partitioning assess independent joint effects water-energy, physiological tolerance, environmental stability results revealed that: (a) Both raw (boundary unreduced) estimated reduced) richness showed large variation, with peak seen at midelevations. were better pattern along elevation, when effect reduced; (b) tolerance explained more compared water-energy variables. Estimated (98.6%) by than (94%); (c) water-related generally had highest dominant findings quantify influence altitudinal gradient compare relative contributions altitude species.