Integrating morphological, anatomical, and physiological traits to explain elevational distributions in Himalayan steppe and alpine plants

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985939%3A_____%2F25%3A00641522" target="_blank" >RIV/67985939:_____/25:00641522 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60076658:12310/25:43910229 RIV/00216208:11310/25:10510125

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13971" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13971</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13971" target="_blank" >10.1111/jipb.13971</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Integrating morphological, anatomical, and physiological traits to explain elevational distributions in Himalayan steppe and alpine plants

Original language description

Understanding plant adaptive strategies that determine species distributions and ecological optima is crucial for predicting responses to global change drivers. While functional traits provide mechanistic insights into distribution patterns, the specific trait syndromes that best predict elevational optima, particularly in less-studied regions such as the Himalayas, remain unclear. This study employs a novel hierarchical framework integrating morphological, anatomical, and physiological traits to explain elevational distributions among 310 plant species across a 3,500-m gradient (2,650-6,150 m). We analyzed 95,000 floristic records collected from 4,062 localities spanning 80,000 km2 in Ladakh, NW Himalayas, India, to define elevational optima and link them with 17 functional traits from over 7,800 individuals. We assessed the roles of moisture and cold limitations on trait-optima relationships by comparing two contrasting habitats (dry steppe and wetter, colder alpine). The predictive power of functional traits was more pronounced in the alpine species facing more extreme abiotic stress than the steppe species. Our results indicate that conservative life history strategies strongly predict elevational optima in alpine areas, while drought avoidance and competitive dominance are key in steppe habitats. Trait syndromes combining short stature, compact growth forms, enhanced storage tissues, and features promoting water-use efficiency (delta 13C), freezing resistance (fructan levels), and nutrient retention (high root nitrogen and leaf phosphorus) explained 61% of the variation in alpine species' optima. Conversely, lifespan and clonal propagation determined the optima of steppe species at lower elevations. The study emphasizes the importance of functional trait combinations in determining elevational optima, highlighting that alpine species prioritize resource conservation and stress tolerance, while steppe species focus on competitive growth strategies. This multi-trait approach contrasts with previous research focusing on single trait-elevation relationships, providing novel insights into the diverse mechanisms shaping elevational distributions and offering valuable predictive power for assessing vegetation responses to future climate change.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10611 - Plant sciences, botany

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA24-11954S" target="_blank" >GA24-11954S: Alpine plants under climate change: from adaptive strategies to ecosystem functioning</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Integrative Plant Biology

ISSN

1672-9072

e-ISSN

1744-7909

Volume of the periodical

67

Issue of the periodical within the volume

10

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

15

Pages from-to

2643-2657

UT code for WoS article

001528693800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105010689000