Authors: Grytnes, John Arvid; Beaman, John H.

Source: Journal of Biogeography, Volume 33, Number 10, October 2006 , pp. 1838-1849(12)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Aim 

We quantify the elevational patterns of species richness for all vascular plants and some functional and taxonomic groups on a regional scale on a tropical mountain and discuss some possible causes for the observed patterns. Location 

Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo. Methods 

A data base containing elevational information on more than 28,000 specimens was analysed for vascular plant distribution, taking into account sampling effort. The total species richness pattern was estimated per 300-m elevational interval by rarefaction analyses. The same methods were also applied to quantify species richness patterns of trees, epiphytes, and ferns. Results 

Total species richness has a humped relationship with elevation, and a maximum species richness in the interval between 900 and 1200 m. For ferns and epiphytes the maximum species richness is found at slightly higher elevations, whereas tree species did not have a statistically significant peak in richness above the lowest interval analysed. Main conclusions 

For the first time a rigorous estimate of an elevational pattern in species richness of the whole vascular plant flora of a tropical mountain has been quantified. The pattern observed depends on the group studied. We discuss the differences between the groups and compare the results with previous studies of elevational patterns of species richness from other tropical areas. We also discuss the methods used to quantify the richness pattern and conclude that rarefaction gives an appropriate estimate of the species richness pattern.

Keywords: Altitudinal gradient; Borneo; macroecology; Mount Kinabalu; rarefaction; sampling effort; species diversity; species richness gradient; tropical mountains

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01554.x

Publication date: 2006-10-01

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