Climate driven elevational variation of vascular plants range size in
the central Himalayas: a supporting case for Rapoport’s rule
- Jianchao Liang,
- Zhifeng Ding,
- Ganwen Lie,
- Zhixin Zhou,
- Paras Singh,
- Zhixiang Zhang,
- Huijian Hu
Zhifeng Ding
Institute of Zoology,Guangdong Academic of Sciences
Author ProfileZhixin Zhou
Institute of Zoology,Guangdong Academic of Sciences
Author ProfileParas Singh
Institute of Zoology,Guangdong Academic of Sciences
Author ProfileHuijian Hu
Institute of Zoology,Guangdong Academic of Sciences
Author ProfileAbstract
How and why species range size varies along spatial gradients is
fundamental yet controversial topics in biogeography. To advance our
understanding on these questions and to provide insight into biological
conservation, we assessed the elevational variations in vascular plants
range size for different life form and biogeographical affinities, and
explored the main drivers underlying above variations in the longest
valley in China's Himalayas---the Gyirong Valley. Elevational range
sizes of vascular plants were documented by 96 sampling plots along 12
elevational bands of 300-m ranging from 1800 to 5400 m above sea level.
We assessed the elevational variations in range size by averaging the
range size of all species within each elevational band. We then related
range size to climate, disturbance, competition factors and the
mid-domain effect, and explored the relative importance of
aforementioned factors in explaining the range size variations using the
Random Forest model. Total 545 vascular plants were documented by our
sampling plots along the elevational gradient. Out of 545 plants, 158,
387, 337 and 112 were woody, herbaceous, temperate and tropical species
respectively. Range size of each groups of vascular plants shown uniform
increasing trends along the elevational gradient which are in accordance
with the prediction of Rapoport's rule. Climate was the main driver for
the increasing trends of vascular plants range size in the Gyirong
Valley. Climate variability hypothesis and mean climate condition
hypothesis were both supported to jointly explain such climate-range
size relationship. Our results reinforce previous notion that Rapoport's
rule applies to where the influence of climate is most pronounced, and
call for close attention to the impact of climate change in order to
prevent range contraction and even extinction under global warming.01 Oct 2020Submitted to Ecology and Evolution 06 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
06 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
30 Oct 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
27 Feb 20211st Revision Received
04 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
04 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
04 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
23 Apr 20212nd Revision Received
23 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
23 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 May 2021Editorial Decision: Accept