Changes in plant taxonomic and functional diversity patterns following treeline advances in the South Urals. (4th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gazol, Antonio; Moiseev, Pavel; Camarero, J. Julio
• Is Part Of: Plant ecology & diversity. Volume 10:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2017-07-04
• Subjects: alpine ecology -- elevational gradient -- functional composition -- mountain forest -- null model -- plant community; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant diversity -- Periodicals; Plant ecology -- Scotland -- Periodicals; Plant diversity -- Scotland -- Periodicals; 581.705
• DOI: 10.1080/17550874.2017.1400126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-0874

Abstract

Abstract : Background : Treeline ecotones represent environmental boundaries that fluctuate in space and time and thus induce changes in plant taxonomic and functional diversity. Aims : To study changes through time in taxonomic and functional plant diversity patterns along the treeline ecotone. Methods : In 2002, vegetation was sampled along a gradient from upper montane forest to the treeline–alpine transition in the South Ural Mountains, Russia. In 2014, vegetation was resampled and plant functional traits were collected. We studied spatial and temporal changes in plant species composition, functional composition and functional diversity. Results : Species composition and diversity changed along the elevational gradient. The functional composition in height, leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen content decreased with elevation, whereas functional composition of leaf carbon content increased. We found a temporal shift towards shorter plants with smaller leaves in treeline sites. Functional richness varied in several traits along the elevational gradient, while functional dispersion showed a trend towards increased functional dispersion in height, specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen in the treeline–tundra transition. Conclusions : Tree encroachment across the treeline ecotone has resulted in a shift in plant species relative abundances and functional diversity, possibly affecting plant community assembly patterns.