Distribution of non-native plant species along elevation gradients in a protected area in the eastern Himalayas, China
| Autor: | Xiaokun Ou, Mingyu Yang, Zheng Lu, Zhongyu Fan, Robert De Wulf, Luc Hens, Xia Liu |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Ecology Introduced species Plant Science Native plant 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Invasive species Plant ecology Geography Altitude Threatened species Nestedness Protected area human activities Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| Zdroj: | Alpine Botany. 128:169-178 |
| ISSN: | 1664-221X 1664-2201 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00035-018-0205-6 |
| Popis: | Mountain ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened by non-native plant invasions. In this paper, the occurrence of non-native plant species was examined in a protected area (Laojun Mountain Area) in the eastern Himalayas, China. Sampling plots were systematically set up along elevation from 1950 to 3500 m a.s.l. Sixty-one non-natives were recorded that account for 24% of the roadside flora. The number of non-native species decreased continuously with increasing elevation and significant nestedness was found between the low- and high-elevation plots. Moreover, all non-native species distributed at high elevation were also found at low elevation and mountain specialists were not found among non-natives. These results indicate that the eastern Himalayan ecosystem is not immune to invasion and most of the non-natives spread from lowland areas upward to the highlands. Future efforts to manage plant invasions in this region should concentrate on low-elevation areas where agriculture and disturbances by tourism are increasing rapidly. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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