interaction between elevational gradient and substratum reveals how bryophytes respond to the climate

• Published in: Journal of vegetation science Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 844 - 853
• Main Author: Spitale, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.07.2016; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Alps region; altitude; Bryopsida; Climate; climate change; dead wood; Elevational gradient; forest litter; forests; Functional diversity; ions; Italy; Liverworts; Mosses; mosses and liverworts; Picea abies; rain; solar radiation; species diversity; Species richness; temperature; tree trunk; β-diversity; Italy; Alps region; Italy, Alps Mts

QUESTIONS: Why does bryophyte richness increase along the elevational gradient? Even though a number of studies have documented the peculiar positive (or hump‐shaped) relationship between species richness and elevation in bryophytes, it is still unclear which underlying mechanisms cause the patter...