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Energy availability outperforms topographic heterogeneity in predicting global patterns of mountain endemic plant
Yuanyuan Gu1,2,3, Jiaxin Ji2, Zhimin Li1
1School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China.
Abstract:
Mountain uplift alters both topographic complexity and energy patterns. However, the relative importance (RI) of these factors in shaping mountain diversity has not been systematically analyzed. This study aims to evaluate the RI of energy and topographic heterogeneity in the diversity pattern of endemic mountain plant genera in the world. The results show that energy (Tree: 69.45% ± 32.11%; Shrub: 64.44% ± 32.90%) is more explanatory than topographic heterogeneity (Tree: 58.54% ± 36.25%; Shrub: 64.09% ± 28.96%) in predicting the richness pattern of endemic woody taxa. For endemic herb plants, topographic heterogeneity is more explanatory (76.70% ± 14.34%). Across most mountain systems, the RI of energy (1.59 ± 0.85) is greater than that of topographic heterogeneity (1.26 ± 0.75). However, the importance of topographic heterogeneity is more prominent in mountainous areas with stable energy supplies (Cape of Good Hope). These findings provide a new perspective on the study of mountain diversity and emphasize the role of energy in diversity that cannot be ignored.
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