Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome
The global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how temporal, microclimate and evolutionary drivers of biogeography are important, rather than th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.00692/full |
| _version_ | 1828187704751292416 |
|---|---|
| author | Stephen Brian Pointing Burkhard eBuedel Peter eConvey Len eGillman Christian eKoerner Sebastian eLeuzinger Warwick F. Vincent |
| author_facet | Stephen Brian Pointing Burkhard eBuedel Peter eConvey Len eGillman Christian eKoerner Sebastian eLeuzinger Warwick F. Vincent |
| author_sort | Stephen Brian Pointing |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how temporal, microclimate and evolutionary drivers of biogeography are important, rather than the macroclimate features that drive plant diversity patterns elsewhere. High polar ecosystems are biologically unique, with a more central role for bryophytes, lichens and microbial photoautotrophs over that of vascular plants. Constraints on vascular plants arise mainly due to stature and ontogenetic barriers. Conversely non-vascular plant and microbial photoautotroph distribution is correlated with favourable microclimates and the capacity for poikilohydric dormancy. Contemporary distribution also depends on evolutionary history, with adaptive and dispersal traits as well as legacy influencing biogeography. We highlight the relevance of these findings to predicting future impacts on polar plant diversity and to the current status of plants in Arctic and Antarctic conservation policy frameworks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:39:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c27c44930f95434daa8a8ecc6352786e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:39:17Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c27c44930f95434daa8a8ecc6352786e2022-12-22T03:41:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2015-09-01610.3389/fpls.2015.00692153097Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biomeStephen Brian Pointing0Burkhard eBuedel1Peter eConvey2Len eGillman3Christian eKoerner4Sebastian eLeuzinger5Warwick F. Vincent6Auckland University of TechnologyUniversity of KaiserslautenBritish Antarctic SurveyAuckland University of TechnologyUniversity of BaselAuckland University of TechnologyUniversite LavalThe global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how temporal, microclimate and evolutionary drivers of biogeography are important, rather than the macroclimate features that drive plant diversity patterns elsewhere. High polar ecosystems are biologically unique, with a more central role for bryophytes, lichens and microbial photoautotrophs over that of vascular plants. Constraints on vascular plants arise mainly due to stature and ontogenetic barriers. Conversely non-vascular plant and microbial photoautotroph distribution is correlated with favourable microclimates and the capacity for poikilohydric dormancy. Contemporary distribution also depends on evolutionary history, with adaptive and dispersal traits as well as legacy influencing biogeography. We highlight the relevance of these findings to predicting future impacts on polar plant diversity and to the current status of plants in Arctic and Antarctic conservation policy frameworks.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.00692/fullCyanobacteriaArcticAntarcticaBryophytescryptogamsplant biogeography |
| spellingShingle | Stephen Brian Pointing Burkhard eBuedel Peter eConvey Len eGillman Christian eKoerner Sebastian eLeuzinger Warwick F. Vincent Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome Frontiers in Plant Science Cyanobacteria Arctic Antarctica Bryophytes cryptogams plant biogeography |
| title | Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome |
| title_full | Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome |
| title_fullStr | Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome |
| title_short | Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome |
| title_sort | biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome |
| topic | Cyanobacteria Arctic Antarctica Bryophytes cryptogams plant biogeography |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.00692/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stephenbrianpointing biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome AT burkhardebuedel biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome AT petereconvey biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome AT lenegillman biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome AT christianekoerner biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome AT sebastianeleuzinger biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome AT warwickfvincent biogeographyofphotoautotrophsinthehighpolarbiome |