Diurnal temperature range as a key predictor of plants’ elevation ranges globally
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Published:2023-11-30
Issue:1
Volume:14
Page:
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ISSN:2041-1723
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Container-title:Nature Communications
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Nat Commun
Author:
Gallou ArnaudORCID, Jump Alistair S.ORCID, Lynn Joshua S.ORCID, Field RichardORCID, Irl Severin D. H.ORCID, Steinbauer Manuel J.ORCID, Beierkuhnlein CarlORCID, Chen Jan-Chang, Chou Chang-Hung, Hemp AndreasORCID, Kidane YohannesORCID, König ChristianORCID, Kreft HolgerORCID, Naqinezhad Alireza, Nowak Arkadiusz, Nuppenau Jan-NiklasORCID, Trigas PanayiotisORCID, Price Jonathan P., Roland Carl A.ORCID, Schweiger Andreas H.ORCID, Weigelt PatrickORCID, Flantua Suzette G. A.ORCID, Grytnes John-ArvidORCID
Abstract
AbstractA prominent hypothesis in ecology is that larger species ranges are found in more variable climates because species develop broader environmental tolerances, predicting a positive range size-temperature variability relationship. However, this overlooks the extreme temperatures that variable climates impose on species, with upper or lower thermal limits more likely to be exceeded. Accordingly, we propose the ‘temperature range squeeze’ hypothesis, predicting a negative range size-temperature variability relationship. We test these contrasting predictions by relating 88,000 elevation range sizes of vascular plants in 44 mountains to short- and long-term temperature variation. Consistent with our hypothesis, we find that species’ range size is negatively correlated with diurnal temperature range. Accurate predictions of short-term temperature variation will become increasingly important for extinction risk assessment in the future.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry,Multidisciplinary
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