@article{efef7fe0785c423ba20639170d8810a3,
title = "Rapid changes in eastern Himalayan alpine flora with climate change",
abstract = " Premise of the Study: With biodiversity and rates of climate change among the highest, the eastern Himalaya are critical for understanding the interaction of these two variables. However, there is a dearth of longitudinal data sets that address the effects of climate change on the exceptional alpine biodiversity of the Himalaya. Methods: We established permanent alpine vegetation monitoring plots in three mountain chains of the Hengduan Mountains, the easternmost Himalaya, which have warmed 0.03–0.05°C yr −1 since 1985. Recently, we resampled plots (176 1-m 2 quadrat plots and 88 sections of 11 summits in three Hengduan mountain chains) to measure changes in vegetation after 7 years. Key Results: Over 7 years, Tibetan alpine vegetation increased in number of species (+8 species/summit; +2.3 species/m 2 ), in frequency (+47.8 plants/m 2 ), and in diversity (+1.6 effective species/m 2 ). Stepwise regressions indicated that warmer temperatures, southerly aspects, and higher elevations were associated with greater increases in these vegetation metrics. Unexpectedly, Himalayan endemic species increased (+1.4 species/m 2 ; +8.5 plants/m 2 ), especially on higher-elevation summits. In contrast, the increase in relative abundance of non-alpine species was greater at lower-elevation summits. Plants used by local Tibetans also increased (+1.3 species/m 2 ; +32 plants/m 2 ). Conclusions: As in other alpine areas, biodiversity is increasing with climate change in the Himalaya. Unlike other areas, endemic species are proliferating at the highest summits and are indicators of change.",
keywords = "alpine vegetation, change over time, endemic, endemism, ethnobotany, GLORIA, Hengduan, Himalaya, species diversity, species richness",
author = "Jan Salick and Zhendong Fang and Robbie Hart",
note = "Funding Information: International research on this scale can only be done with the collaboration of many people, institutions, and governments. Collaborating scientists and workers (not directly responsible for this publication) include Dr. Wayne Law, Dr. Anja Byg, Dr. Nanci Ross, Katie Konchar, Hai Xian, Xie Aifang, Xiao Maorong, Shi Xiaowu, Li Lei, Liu Lin, Yangzong, Dr. Hu Huabin, Xie Hongyan, Li Deyou, He Guang, Luo Yongmei, and last but far from least, Li Hong. In addition, we are thankful for the support of Drs. Xu Jianchu and Yang Yongping (Kunming Institute of Botany – Chinese Academy of Sciences); and Drs. Georg Grabherr and Harold Pauli (GLORIA Coordination, University of Vienna, Austria). Chinese government permits for this research were issued by national and prefectural governments, without which we could not have done the work. Funding was provided by National Geographic Society, The Nature Conservancy, Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation (“Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Southwest China” IGERT DGE#0549369) along with salaries of the authors from their home institutions. For all of these services, we are profoundly grateful. Our special thanks to the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Shangrila Alpine Botanical Garden, far sighted institutions that support and encourage creative international botanical research and conservation. We are indebted to our careful and constructive reviewers. Funding Information: International research on this scale can only be done with the collaboration of many people, institutions, and governments. Collaborating scientists and workers (not directly responsible for this publication) include Dr. Wayne Law, Dr. Anja Byg, Dr. Nanci Ross, Katie Konchar, Hai Xian, Xie Aifang, Xiao Maorong, Shi Xiaowu, Li Lei, Liu Lin, Yangzong, Dr. Hu Huabin, Xie Hongyan, Li Deyou, He Guang, Luo Yongmei, and last but far from least, Li Hong. In addition, we are thankful for the support of Drs. Xu Jianchu and Yang Yongping (Kunming Institute of Botany ? Chinese Academy of Sciences); and Drs. Georg Grabherr and Harold Pauli (GLORIA Coordination, University of Vienna, Austria). Chinese government permits for this research were issued by national and prefectural governments, without which we could not have done the work. Funding was provided by National Geographic Society, The Nature Conservancy, Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation (?Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Southwest China? IGERT DGE#0549369) along with salaries of the authors from their home institutions. For all of these services, we are profoundly grateful. Our special thanks to the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Shangrila Alpine Botanical Garden, far sighted institutions that support and encourage creative international botanical research and conservation. We are indebted to our careful and constructive reviewers. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Botanical Society of America",
year = "2019",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1002/ajb2.1263",
language = "English",
volume = "106",
pages = "520--530",
journal = "American Journal of Botany",
issn = "0002-9122",
number = "4",
}