Concepts in Alpine Plant Ecology

The alpine life zone is perhaps the only biome that occurs globally where mountains are high enough. At latitudinally varying elevation, the alpine belt hosts small stature plants that vary greatly in morphology, anatomy and physiology. In this contribution, I summarize a number of principles that govern life in what is often considered a cold and hostile environment. The 12 conceptual frameworks depicted include the key role of aerodynamic decoupling from free atmospheric climatic conditions, the problematic concepts of limitation and stress in an evolutionary context, and the role of developmental flexibility and functional diversity. With its topography driven habitat diversity, alpine plant diversity is buffered against environmental change, and the multitude of microclimatic gradients offers 'experiments by nature', the power of which awaits multidisciplinary exploration.

Automated summary

The alpine life zone is a unique biome where mountains are high enough to host small stature plants with varying morphology, anatomy, and physiology. This article summarizes several principles that govern life in this cold and hostile environment, including the role of aerodynamic decoupling, the concepts of limitation and stress in an evolutionary context, and the importance of developmental flexibility and functional diversity.