Warming reconstructs the elevation distributions of aboveground net primary production, plant species and phylogenetic diversity in alpine grasslands

Warming is an important climate change, both plant diversity and aboveground net primary production (ANPP) are closely correlated with ecosystem functions and services. A field warming experiment along an elevation gradient (4313-4693 m) was performed in three alpine grassland sites, the Northern Tibet to investigate whether warming can alter elevation distribution patterns of ANPP, species and phylogenetic diversity. Warming altered elevational distributions of plant species and phylogenetic diversity by reducing alpha-diversity, but increased beta-diversity among the three elevations. These warming effects on elevation distributions of plant diversity can be due to warming-induced changes in the relative contributions of selection, dispersal and drift, and the elevational distributions of soil and air temperatures, soil moisture, vapor pressure deficit, soil pH, soil available nitrogen and phosphorus. Warming altered the elevational distribution of ANPP by altering the elevation distributions of plant diversity and abiotic factors. Therefore, warming can alter the elevation distribution patterns of ANPP, species and phylogenetic diversity in alpine grasslands.

Automated summary

This study conducted a field warming experiment in alpine grasslands of Northern Tibet and found that warming can alter the elevation distribution patterns of ANPP, species, and phylogenetic diversity by reducing alpha-diversity and increasing beta-diversity. These changes may be attributed to the warming-induced alterations in the relative contributions of selection, dispersal, and drift, as well as the elevational distributions of various abiotic factors.