Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau

Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
Oxford University Press
Published 2018
Publication Date:
2018-03-06
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Print ISSN:
1752-993X
Electronic ISSN:
1752-9921
Topics:
Biology
Published by:
_version_ 1839207935917424640
autor Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
beschreibung Aims Several studies have shown that plant height changes along environmental gradients. However, altitudinal patterns of plant height across species are still unclear, especially in regions sensitive to climate change. As canopy height decreases dramatically near the tree line in alpine areas, we hypothesize that plant height across all species also decreases with increasing altitude, and distinct thresholds exist along this gradient. Methods Using a large dataset of maximum plant height and elevation range (400 to 6000 m a.s.l.) of 4295 angiosperms from the regional flora of the Tibetan Plateau, we regressed plant height for every 100 m belt against elevation to explore the relationships. To identify the approximate boundaries where dramatic changes in plant height occurs for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, we used piecewise linear regression. Phylogenetically independent contrast was used to test the potential evolutionary influences on altitudinal patterns at the family level. Important Findings Results showed that for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, plant height decreases significantly as altitude increases. In addition, we found that altitude, a proxy for many environmental factors, had obvious thresholds (breakpoints) dictating patterns of plant height. The results of phylogenetically independent contrast also emphasized the importance of evolutionary history in determining the altitudinal patterns of plant height for some growth forms. Our results highlight the relative intense filtering effect of environmental factors in shaping patterns of functional traits and how this could vary for different ranges of environmental variables.
citation_standardnr 6190195
datenlieferant ipn_articles
feed_id 92885
feed_publisher Oxford University Press
feed_publisher_url http://global.oup.com/
insertion_date 2018-03-06
journaleissn 1752-9921
journalissn 1752-993X
publikationsjahr_anzeige 2018
publikationsjahr_facette 2018
publikationsjahr_intervall 7984:2015-2019
publikationsjahr_sort 2018
publisher Oxford University Press
quelle Journal of Plant Ecology
relation https://academic.oup.com/jpe/article/11/1/85/2738894?rss=1
search_space articles
shingle_author_1 Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
shingle_author_2 Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
shingle_author_3 Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
shingle_author_4 Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
shingle_catch_all_1 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
Aims Several studies have shown that plant height changes along environmental gradients. However, altitudinal patterns of plant height across species are still unclear, especially in regions sensitive to climate change. As canopy height decreases dramatically near the tree line in alpine areas, we hypothesize that plant height across all species also decreases with increasing altitude, and distinct thresholds exist along this gradient. Methods Using a large dataset of maximum plant height and elevation range (400 to 6000 m a.s.l.) of 4295 angiosperms from the regional flora of the Tibetan Plateau, we regressed plant height for every 100 m belt against elevation to explore the relationships. To identify the approximate boundaries where dramatic changes in plant height occurs for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, we used piecewise linear regression. Phylogenetically independent contrast was used to test the potential evolutionary influences on altitudinal patterns at the family level. Important Findings Results showed that for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, plant height decreases significantly as altitude increases. In addition, we found that altitude, a proxy for many environmental factors, had obvious thresholds (breakpoints) dictating patterns of plant height. The results of phylogenetically independent contrast also emphasized the importance of evolutionary history in determining the altitudinal patterns of plant height for some growth forms. Our results highlight the relative intense filtering effect of environmental factors in shaping patterns of functional traits and how this could vary for different ranges of environmental variables.
Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
Oxford University Press
1752-993X
1752993X
1752-9921
17529921
shingle_catch_all_2 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
Aims Several studies have shown that plant height changes along environmental gradients. However, altitudinal patterns of plant height across species are still unclear, especially in regions sensitive to climate change. As canopy height decreases dramatically near the tree line in alpine areas, we hypothesize that plant height across all species also decreases with increasing altitude, and distinct thresholds exist along this gradient. Methods Using a large dataset of maximum plant height and elevation range (400 to 6000 m a.s.l.) of 4295 angiosperms from the regional flora of the Tibetan Plateau, we regressed plant height for every 100 m belt against elevation to explore the relationships. To identify the approximate boundaries where dramatic changes in plant height occurs for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, we used piecewise linear regression. Phylogenetically independent contrast was used to test the potential evolutionary influences on altitudinal patterns at the family level. Important Findings Results showed that for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, plant height decreases significantly as altitude increases. In addition, we found that altitude, a proxy for many environmental factors, had obvious thresholds (breakpoints) dictating patterns of plant height. The results of phylogenetically independent contrast also emphasized the importance of evolutionary history in determining the altitudinal patterns of plant height for some growth forms. Our results highlight the relative intense filtering effect of environmental factors in shaping patterns of functional traits and how this could vary for different ranges of environmental variables.
Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
Oxford University Press
1752-993X
1752993X
1752-9921
17529921
shingle_catch_all_3 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
Aims Several studies have shown that plant height changes along environmental gradients. However, altitudinal patterns of plant height across species are still unclear, especially in regions sensitive to climate change. As canopy height decreases dramatically near the tree line in alpine areas, we hypothesize that plant height across all species also decreases with increasing altitude, and distinct thresholds exist along this gradient. Methods Using a large dataset of maximum plant height and elevation range (400 to 6000 m a.s.l.) of 4295 angiosperms from the regional flora of the Tibetan Plateau, we regressed plant height for every 100 m belt against elevation to explore the relationships. To identify the approximate boundaries where dramatic changes in plant height occurs for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, we used piecewise linear regression. Phylogenetically independent contrast was used to test the potential evolutionary influences on altitudinal patterns at the family level. Important Findings Results showed that for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, plant height decreases significantly as altitude increases. In addition, we found that altitude, a proxy for many environmental factors, had obvious thresholds (breakpoints) dictating patterns of plant height. The results of phylogenetically independent contrast also emphasized the importance of evolutionary history in determining the altitudinal patterns of plant height for some growth forms. Our results highlight the relative intense filtering effect of environmental factors in shaping patterns of functional traits and how this could vary for different ranges of environmental variables.
Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
Oxford University Press
1752-993X
1752993X
1752-9921
17529921
shingle_catch_all_4 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
Aims Several studies have shown that plant height changes along environmental gradients. However, altitudinal patterns of plant height across species are still unclear, especially in regions sensitive to climate change. As canopy height decreases dramatically near the tree line in alpine areas, we hypothesize that plant height across all species also decreases with increasing altitude, and distinct thresholds exist along this gradient. Methods Using a large dataset of maximum plant height and elevation range (400 to 6000 m a.s.l.) of 4295 angiosperms from the regional flora of the Tibetan Plateau, we regressed plant height for every 100 m belt against elevation to explore the relationships. To identify the approximate boundaries where dramatic changes in plant height occurs for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, we used piecewise linear regression. Phylogenetically independent contrast was used to test the potential evolutionary influences on altitudinal patterns at the family level. Important Findings Results showed that for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, plant height decreases significantly as altitude increases. In addition, we found that altitude, a proxy for many environmental factors, had obvious thresholds (breakpoints) dictating patterns of plant height. The results of phylogenetically independent contrast also emphasized the importance of evolutionary history in determining the altitudinal patterns of plant height for some growth forms. Our results highlight the relative intense filtering effect of environmental factors in shaping patterns of functional traits and how this could vary for different ranges of environmental variables.
Mao L, Chen S, Zhang J, et al.
Oxford University Press
1752-993X
1752993X
1752-9921
17529921
shingle_title_1 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
shingle_title_2 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
shingle_title_3 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
shingle_title_4 Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
timestamp 2025-07-31T23:42:50.623Z
titel Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
titel_suche Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau
topic W
uid ipn_articles_6190195