Plant invasion and speciation along elevational gradients on the oceanic island La Palma, Canary Islands.

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_144FB5E58DDA
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Plant invasion and speciation along elevational gradients on the oceanic island La Palma, Canary Islands.
Journal
Ecology and Evolution
Author(s)
Steinbauer M.J., Irl S.D.H., González-Mancebo J.M., Breiner F.T., Hernández Hernández R., Hopfenmüller S., Kidane Y., Jentsch A., Beierkuhnlein C.
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2017
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
7
Number
2
Pages
771-779
Language
english
Abstract
Ecosystems that provide environmental opportunities but are poor in species and functional richness generally support speciation as well as invasion processes. These processes are expected not to be equally effective along elevational gradients due to specific ecological, spatial, and anthropogenic filters, thus controlling the dispersal and establishment of species. Here, we investigate speciation and invasion processes along elevational gradients. We assess the vascular plant species richness as well as the number and percentage of endemic species and non- native species systematically along three elevational gradients covering large parts of the climatic range of La Palma, Canary Islands. Species richness was negatively correlated with elevation, while the percentage of Canary endemic species showed a positive relationship. However, the percentage of Canary–Madeira endemics did not show a relationship with elevation. Non- native species richness (indicating invasion) peaked at 500 m elevation and showed a consistent decline until about 1,200 m elevation. Above that limit, no non- native species were present in the studied elevational gradients. Ecological, anthropo- genic, and spatial filters control richness, diversification, and invasion with elevation. With increase in elevation, richness decreases due to species–area relationships. Ecological limitations of native ruderal species related to anthropogenic pressure are in line with the absence of non- native species from high elevations indicating direc- tional ecological filtering. Increase in ecological isolation with elevation drives diversi- fication and thus increased percentages of Canary endemics. The best preserved eastern transect, including mature laurel forests, is an exception. The high percentage of Canary–Madeira endemics indicates the cloud forest’s environmental uniqueness— and thus ecological isolation—beyond the Macaronesian islands.
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
08/11/2016 16:28
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:43
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