Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits
High-mountain ecosystems are spots of plant diversity in which species composition and traits depict a long evolutionary history of species adaptation to steep environmental gradients. We investigated the main trends in plant species composition and reproductive and dispersal traits (pollen vector,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/10/3/58 |
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| author | Michele Di Musciano Maria Laura Carranza Ludovico Frate Valter Di Cecco Luciano Di Martino Anna Rita Frattaroli Angela Stanisci |
| author_facet | Michele Di Musciano Maria Laura Carranza Ludovico Frate Valter Di Cecco Luciano Di Martino Anna Rita Frattaroli Angela Stanisci |
| author_sort | Michele Di Musciano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High-mountain ecosystems are spots of plant diversity in which species composition and traits depict a long evolutionary history of species adaptation to steep environmental gradients. We investigated the main trends in plant species composition and reproductive and dispersal traits (pollen vector, diaspore appendages, dispersal of diaspores and fruit type) in central Mediterranean summits in relation to environmental factors (altitude, aspect, debris cover and slope). Based on 114 plots, with floristic and environmental data collected in the year 2016 on alpine calcareous grasslands in the central Apennines, we explored how species composition varies in relation to environmental factors using CCA (canonical correspondence analysis). Then, we analyzed the relationships among species presence, the occurrence of reproductive and dispersal traits and environmental variables. We used for this analysis the fourth-corner model approach. Our results highlight a consistent response of floristic composition and of structural and ecological characteristics to environmental gradients, with elevation and debris cover being the most important ones. The environmental characteristics of the analyzed ecosystems (e.g., steep slopes and harsh environments) combined with the persistence of perennial plant species already present in each stand, the high precision of pollination and the prevalence of short-distance dissemination strategies should allow the calcareous endemic plant communities of the analyzed Mediterranean summits to be conserved at least for a mid-term period slowing down the expansion of the warm-adapted species, less adapted to the local environmental constrains. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:39:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3203d9b8a46f4b329f90604d88e6df57 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:39:35Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-3203d9b8a46f4b329f90604d88e6df572022-12-22T04:23:32ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182018-07-011035810.3390/d10030058d10030058Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean SummitsMichele Di Musciano0Maria Laura Carranza1Ludovico Frate2Valter Di Cecco3Luciano Di Martino4Anna Rita Frattaroli5Angela Stanisci6Department of Life Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyEnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C. da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, ItalyEnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C. da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, ItalyMajella National Park, Via Badia 28, I-67030 Sulmona, ItalyMajella National Park, Via Badia 28, I-67030 Sulmona, ItalyDepartment of Life Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyEnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C. da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, ItalyHigh-mountain ecosystems are spots of plant diversity in which species composition and traits depict a long evolutionary history of species adaptation to steep environmental gradients. We investigated the main trends in plant species composition and reproductive and dispersal traits (pollen vector, diaspore appendages, dispersal of diaspores and fruit type) in central Mediterranean summits in relation to environmental factors (altitude, aspect, debris cover and slope). Based on 114 plots, with floristic and environmental data collected in the year 2016 on alpine calcareous grasslands in the central Apennines, we explored how species composition varies in relation to environmental factors using CCA (canonical correspondence analysis). Then, we analyzed the relationships among species presence, the occurrence of reproductive and dispersal traits and environmental variables. We used for this analysis the fourth-corner model approach. Our results highlight a consistent response of floristic composition and of structural and ecological characteristics to environmental gradients, with elevation and debris cover being the most important ones. The environmental characteristics of the analyzed ecosystems (e.g., steep slopes and harsh environments) combined with the persistence of perennial plant species already present in each stand, the high precision of pollination and the prevalence of short-distance dissemination strategies should allow the calcareous endemic plant communities of the analyzed Mediterranean summits to be conserved at least for a mid-term period slowing down the expansion of the warm-adapted species, less adapted to the local environmental constrains.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/10/3/58alpine vegetationcalcareous high mountainsfourth cornerplant traitspollen and diaspore dispersal |
| spellingShingle | Michele Di Musciano Maria Laura Carranza Ludovico Frate Valter Di Cecco Luciano Di Martino Anna Rita Frattaroli Angela Stanisci Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits Diversity alpine vegetation calcareous high mountains fourth corner plant traits pollen and diaspore dispersal |
| title | Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits |
| title_full | Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits |
| title_fullStr | Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits |
| title_short | Distribution of Plant Species and Dispersal Traits along Environmental Gradients in Central Mediterranean Summits |
| title_sort | distribution of plant species and dispersal traits along environmental gradients in central mediterranean summits |
| topic | alpine vegetation calcareous high mountains fourth corner plant traits pollen and diaspore dispersal |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/10/3/58 |
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