Create your own conference schedule! Click here for full instructions

Abstract Detail


Charles Heiser Special Contributed Paper Session

Ross, Nanci [1], Salick, Jan [2].

On the roof of the world: climate change, biogeography & alpine plant diversity, Hengduan Mountains, China.

The highest plant diversity and richness in the eastern Himalayas is found in Alpine environments. Furthermore, locally useful plants (e.g., Tibetan medicines) are most abundant in Alpine meadows. Thus, climate change that threatens alpine plants impacts both Himalayan biological and cultural diversity. We assessed species diversity and composition across precipitation and biogeographic gradients within the Hengduan Mountains, NW Yunnan Province, China. Our data indicate that precipitation drives changes in species composition from SW to NE. Two sites, less than 10 km distant that ordinate together with precipitation, are divided by the Mekong(Lansang) river gorge. Interestingly,significant indicator species distinguishing the sites are often from shared genera suggesting a mechanism for the high beta diversity across the region.

Broader Impacts:


Log in to add this item to your schedule

1 - Drake University, Biology Department, Olin Hall Room 208, 1344 27th Street, Des Moines, IA, 50311, USA
2 - Missouri Botanical Garden, PO Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166-0299, USA

Keywords:
beta diversity
Hengduan Mountains
alpine
climate change.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 03
Location: Lindell D/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 10:15 AM
Number: 03010
Abstract ID:196


Copyright © 2000-2011, Botanical Society of America. All rights reserved