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SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: Assimilation vs. intercellular CO2 response curves on Open Top Chamber species on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu/R/?func=collections&collection_id=3429). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. Additional information and referenced materials can be found: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/82454. Single leaf gas exchange (CO2 & H2O) was measured several times per season on important grass species in the shortgrass steppe open-top-chamber experiment. Cuvette CO2 levels were varied to investigate physiological adaptations to elevated CO2. C3 grass displayed photosynthetic acclimation, while C4 grass did not. Leaf water-use-efficiency was improved under ECO2. Absolute assimilation rates were more dependent on soil and plant water status than on CO2. This research was conducted at the Central Plains Experimental Range, near Nunn, CO; lat.40degrees 40 minutes N; long. 104 degrees 45 minutes W in the shortgrass steppe region of NE Colorado, USA and as a collaboration between SGS-LTER and USDA-ARS researchers.

SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: OTC summer plus fall total harvest data on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: Leaf carbon isotope, nitrogen, carbon and Ci/Ca means from the SGS Open Top Chamber experiment on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu/R/?func=collections&collection_id=3429). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. Additional information and referenced materials can be found: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/82454. Carbon isotopes of elevated and ambient OTC plants were measured for use in isotope labeling and plant water-use-efficiency measures. Leaf N and C are associated parameters were also measured. This research was conducted at the Central Plains Experimental Range, near Nunn, CO; lat.40degrees 40 minutes N; long. 104 degrees 45 minutes W in the shortgrass steppe region of NE Colorado, USA and as a collaboration between SGS-LTER and USDA-ARS researchers.

SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: Visual estimates of plant cover on the OTC project on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu/R/?func=collections&collection_id=3429). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. Additional information and referenced materials can be found: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/82454. Every month, during the growing season, from 1997-2001, 10 small quadrats were placed in ambient and elevated CO2 open-top-chambers, and plant cover, by species, was visually estimated. In general, elevated CO2 caused an increase in one C3 grass species, Stipa comata, and a small increase in forbs.

SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: Amount of seedlings germinated from surface soil of Open Top Chamber plots on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu/R/?func=collections&collection_id=3429). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. Additional information and referenced materials can be found: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/82454. At the end of the Open Top Chamber study, surface soil was removed from each of the 9 plots, and placed in flats in a greenhouse; mist irrigated frequently, and germinated seedlings were identified by species, to get an idea of the available seed bank after 5 years. There was a great amount of variability; overall there was an increase in seeds in the chambered plots. This research was conducted at the Central Plains Experimental Range, near Nunn, CO; lat.40degrees 40 minutes N; long. 104 degrees 45 minutes W in the shortgrass steppe region of NE Colorado, USA and as a collaboration between SGS-LTER and USDA-ARS researchers.

SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: Biomass, by species, from ambient and elevated CO2 OTC's and unchambered controls on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu/R/?func=collections&collection_id=3429). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. Additional information and referenced materials can be found: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/82454. Above-ground plant material was harvested, by species, in July (PSC) in five years from ambient and elevated CO2 Open-top-chambers, and unchambered controls. There was a small difference in species composition, in the plots, in 1996; prior to any CO2 treatment; this data should be used as a covariate in looking at subsequent years. There was a consistent increase in plant productivity in the elevated CO2 chambers, primarily in the C3 grass group.

SGS-LTER CO2 Elevation Study: Stipa comata basal size and plant density per Open Top Chamber plot on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997 - 2001

This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu/R/?func=collections&collection_id=3429). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. Additional information and referenced materials can be found: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/82454. At the end of the Open Top Chamber experiment the number and basal size of Stipa comata plants in ambient and elevated (720ppm) chambered and unchambered plots was measured. There was a greater number of small plants and seedlings in the elevated CO2 plots. This research was conducted at the Central Plains Experimental Range, near Nunn, CO; lat.40degrees 40 minutes N; long. 104 degrees 45 minutes W in the shortgrass steppe region of NE Colorado, USA and as a collaboration between SGS-LTER and USDA-ARS researchers.

SGS-LTER GIS layer with detailed information on Elevation Contours on Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 2012

opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

Weather variation affects the dispersal of grasshoppers beyond their elevational ranges

Understanding how abiotic conditions influence dispersal patterns of organisms is important for understanding the degree to which species can track and persist in the face of changing climate. The goal of this study was to understand how weather conditions (temperature, precipitation and wind patterns) influence the dispersal patterns of multiple non-migratory grasshopper species from lower elevation grassland habitats in which they complete their life-cycles to higher elevations that extend beyond their range limits. The study also explored the role of weather factors (temperature and precipitation) in influencing the population sizes of species found at lower elevations.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Biogeographic affiliation and centers of richness as predictors of elevational range-size patterns for Malesian flora

Our goal was to interrogate the idea that "mountain passes are higher in the tropics" by investigating ecological and biogeographic drivers of elevational range-sizes patterns among equatorial flora. We used herbarium records for sixty species-rich plant families, representing 18535 species total, to estimate distributions over a 4500 m elevational gradient. For each family, we estimated the change in average range-sizes with increasing elevation (i.e. Rapoport's rule, abbreviated as ERR) and quantified 15 metrics of familial richness distribution, evolutionary age, and biogeographic affiliation. We visualized covariation across families using phylogenetic principal components analysis (pPCA). We then evaluated how family-level ERR slopes correlated with each metric individually, as well as when using multivariate techniques to reduce dimensionality. We hypothesized that if long term climate stability over millions of years promotes habitat specialization, then among taxa with longer-term tropical affiliations, we would expect smaller range-sizes within lowland forests, with greater range-size expansion towards higher elevations, expressed as a positive ERR slope. Conversely, variation in growing conditions should promote larger, relatively consistent, range-sizes at all sections of an elevational gradient, expressed as a neutral ERR slope. Our results support this corollary because of the dichotomy of ERR slopes observed in relation to the elevational distribution of richness and historical biogeographic positioning. We found that families with greater Sundaland endemism, or richness that was restricted to tropical lowland forests, had positive ERR slopes. Families with stronger Sahul affiliation, or montane centered richness, had shallower, neutral, or negative ERR slopes, as did clades with temperate origins. Families with Wallacea affiliation, broader latitudinal or elevational distributions, cosmopolitanism, greater richness, or older evolutionary age had mixed results. We conclude that the relative steepness of an ERR slope is an indicator of a taxonomic group's tolerance of habitat variation and vulnerability to contemporary climate change.

opencc-zeroJun 2022View details →

Community science data provides evidence for upward elevational range shifts by Eastern Himalayan birds

The ongoing climate crisis is a significant threat to global biodiversity. As Earth warms, many species respond by shifting their geographical ranges either polewards, or in mountainous regions, upslope towards higher elevations, presumably to track suitable thermal environments. Upslope range shifts are of particular concern in tropical mountain ranges because: (a) tropical species are particularly thermally sensitive, (b) species moving upwards could become locally extirpated as they run out of habitable space, and (c) tropical mountains harbor a high fraction of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity. Rapid upslope shifts can therefore result in significant biodiversity losses. We used community science data over a 13-year period to evaluate whether 93 Eastern Himalayan bird species might be shifting to higher elevations. To do this, we analyzed changes in their occurrence probabilities in eBird checklists from birdwatching hotspots at fixed elevations. We found patterns consistent with upslope range shifts; species with elevational ranges primarily below hotspot elevations show increases in their occurrence probability over time, and those with most of their elevational ranges above a hotspot elevation decline in occurrence probability. Our findings are suggestive of rapid responses to climate change by Eastern Himalayan birds. We caution that Eastern Himalayan bird species might be at special risk from increasing global temperatures because of heightened thermal sensitivity coupled with high rates of warming in the region. To remain resilient in the face of climate change, Eastern Himalayan birds likely require undisturbed habitats spanning entire elevational gradients, to track rising temperatures by moving to higher elevations.

opencc-zeroDec 2021View details →

Elevational range of mammals, birds, and amphibians in the Himalayas

The lowest and highest elevations known for each species are used to delineate its elevational limits. We assume that species potentially exist between their elevational limits. For species that have a single elevational distribution record (resulting in an elevational range of zero) as well as those with elevational ranges less than 200 m, we adjusted their elevation ranges to 200 m. We verified all data for accuracy by experts within the region and any dubious outlying records were removed. Elevational limits were given for 1,488 species, including 314 mammals, 1027 birds, and 147 amphibians in the Himalayas.

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

Physiological thermal niches, elevational ranges and thermal stress in dendrobatid frogs: an integrated approach

Aim: We investigated the relationship between thermal physiology, elevational distribution, and thermal stress among nine closely related dendrobatid frogs during their aquatic stage by employing an integrated approach, combining thermal physiology, environmental temperature modelling, and predictive assessments of current and future exposure to thermal variation. Location: Ecuador Taxon: Amphibians; Anura, Dendrobatidae, Epipedobates, Hyloxalus Methods: We determined the Thermal Performance Curves of larval growth (TPCs) for each species and modelled the thermal variation in contrasting aquatic larval environments for both present and future times. This allowed us to estimate the expected elevational distributions and forecast periods of exposure to stressful temperatures that inhibit larval growth due to elevation and global warming. Results: We found significant correlations between optimum temperature (Topt), 50 % maximum performance temperature (maxB50), 50% minimum performance temperature (minB50), and cold resistance (survival at 9 ºC) with the current elevational distributions. However, thermal physiology predicted lower than observed distributions for high-elevation dendrobatids and higher than observed maximum elevations for lowland species. Nonetheless, our models predicted that low thermal variability habitats (i.e. streams and deep permanent ponds) can buffer the future increase in temperatures for all taxa, even when considering the most extreme scenario. In contrast, all species within high thermal variation habitats (open forest temporary ponds) are expected to experience stressful temperatures under present conditions. Main Conclusions: The findings indicate that thermal physiology may not be a limiting factor for dendrobatid frog species' ranges in this equatorial mountain gradient. Highland species may need to adapt to suboptimal performance, while some lowland species could occupy higher elevations. This study emphasizes the importance of habitat buffering to mitigate thermal stress in the face of climate change for amphibians in tropical mountains.

opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

Data from: Rapoport's rule explains the range size distribution of butterflies along the Eastern Himalayan elevation gradient

Understanding elevational range size distribution of organisms can provide valuable insights on biogeographic pattern of species and their conservation. Rapoport's rule posits that the elevational range size of species increases with increasing elevation. However, the validity of this rule is often questioned due to variations in methodologies across studies and inconsistencies among different groups of organisms. In this study we examined the elevational range size distribution of butterflies in the Eastern Himalaya, and assessed the applicability of Rapoport's rule using different approaches, which perhaps is the first of its kind in the Himalaya. We sampled butterflies along the elevational gradient of 16 elevational bands (300 – 3,300 m) using point count method along the transect. The sampled butterflies were grouped into various sub-groups based on family, biogeographic affinity, and larval feeding pattern. We found that the majority of the butterfly species (total as well as sub-groups) had small range sizes, and their elevational range distribution showed support for the Rapoport's rule. Increase in variation in temperature as measured by temperature seasonality and mean annual temperature range were the most important predictors of range size distribution pattern of the overall butterfly community. However, the relationship between range size and climatic variability differed among various sub-groups implying that the perceived pattern may vary even within the species of the same taxon.

opencc-zeroJul 2021View details →

Elevational range-sizes and edaphic associations for plant species of the Mount Kinabalu region of Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia)

Identifying physical and ecological boundaries that limit where species can occur is important for predicting how those species will respond to global change. The island of Borneo encompasses a wide range of habitats that support some of the highest richness on Earth, making it an ideal location for investigating ecological mechanisms underlying broad patterns of species distribution. We tested variation in richness and range-size in relation to edaphic specialization and vegetation zone boundaries using 3060 plant species from 193 families centered around the elevational gradient of Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. Across species, average range-size increased with elevation, consistent with Rapoport's rule. However, plants associated with ultramafic soil, which is low in nutrient and water availability and often has high concentrations of heavy metals, had larger range-sizes and greater richness than expected along the elevational gradient, as compared to a null model with randomization of edaphic association. In contrast, non-ultramafic species had smaller range-sizes and lower richness than expected. These results suggest that tolerance of resource limitation may be associated with wider range-sizes, whereas species intolerant of edaphic stress may have narrower range-sizes, possibly owing to more intense competition in favorable soil types. Using elevation as a predictor of average range-sizes, we found that piece-wise models with breakpoints at vegetation zone transitions explained species distributions better than models that did not incorporate ecological boundaries. The greatest relative increases in range-size with respect to elevation occurred mid-elevation, within the montane cloud forest vegetation zone. Expansion of average range-size across an area without physical boundaries may indicate a shift in ecological strategy and importance of biotic versus abiotic stressors. Our results indicate that elevational range-size patterns are structured by ecological constraints such as species' edaphic association, which may limit the ability of species to migrate up or down mountains in response to climate change.

opencc-zeroNov 2022View details →

Data for: Elevational changes in insect herbivory on woody plants in six mountain ranges of temperate Eurasia: Sources of variation

Current theory predicts that the intensity of biotic interactions, and particularly herbivory, decreases with increasing latitude and elevation. However, recent studies have revealed substantial variation in both the latitudinal and elevational patterns of herbivory. This variation is often attributed to differences in study design and type of data collected by different researchers. Here, we used a standardised sampling protocol along elevational gradients in six mountain ranges, located at different latitudes within temperate Eurasia, to uncover the sources of variation in elevational patterns in insect herbivory on woody plant leaves. We discovered the considerable variation in elevational patterns among different mountain ranges; nevertheless, herbivory generally decreased with increasing elevation at both the community-wide and individual plant species levels. This decrease was mostly due to openly living defoliators, whereas no significant association was detected between herbivory and elevation among insects living within plant tissues (i.e. miners and gallers). The elevational decrease in herbivory was significant for deciduous plants but not for evergreen plants, and for low-stature plants but not for tall plants. The community-wide herbivory increased with increases in both specific leaf area and leaf size. The strength of the negative correlation between herbivory and elevation increased from lower to higher latitudes. We conclude that elevational gradients in herbivory demonstrate considerable variation, and that this variation is mostly associated with herbivore feeding habit, some plant traits and latitude of the mountain range.

opencc-zeroFeb 2023View details →

Distinct responses and range shifts of lizards populations across an elevational gradient under climate change

Ongoing climate change has profoundly affected global biodiversity, but its impacts on populations across elevations remain understudied. Using a mechanistic niche model incorporating species traits, we predicted ecophysiological responses (activity times, oxygen consumption and evaporative water loss) for lizard populations at high-elevation (< 3600 m asl) and extra-high-elevation (> 3600 m asl) under recent (1970–2000) and future (2081–2100) climates. Compared with their high-elevation counterparts, lizards from extra-high-elevations are predicted to experience a greater increase in activity time and oxygen consumption but a similar increase in evaporative water loss. By integrating these ecophysiological traits into a hybrid species distribution model (HSDM), we were able to make the following predictions under two warming scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP5-8.5). By 2081–2100, we predict that lizards at both high- and extra-high-elevations will shift upslope; lizards at extra-high-elevations will gain more and lose less habitat than will their high-elevation congeners. We therefore advocate the conservation of high-elevation species in the context of climate change, especially for those populations living close to their lower elevational range limits. In addition, by comparing the results from HSDM and traditional species distribution models, we highlight the importance of considering intraspecific variation and local adaptation in physiological traits along elevational gradients when forecasting species' future distributions under climate change.

opencc-zeroMar 2023View details →

Small mammal granivory as a biotic filter for tree establishment beyond elevation range boundaries

Trees often experience migration lags in their response to rapidly changing climate. Preferential granivory by nocturnal small mammals has the potential to create lags by reducing germination success beyond range edges. To determine how granivory may limit establishment of trees beyond their range margins, we conducted a seed choice experiment which offered seeds of five regionally dominant tree species to small mammals within distinct forest communities across a 400m elevational gradient on four mountains in the northeastern United States. Multinomial logistic mixed effects models were used to (a) quantify seed preference of each species across the elevational gradient and (b) assess relationships between seed preference and abiotic variables. A separate seed dispersal experiment was used to compare the probability of seed consumption versus seed caching. The low-elevation temperate tree species Fagus grandifolia and Acer saccharum had an equally high probability of granivory within and beyond their range margins (~40% and ~20%, respectively). Generally, seed preference was positively correlated with seed mass and nutrient content regardless of elevation. Our seed dispersal experiment revealed that seeds were 3× more likely to be consumed than cached, suggesting that small mammals can potentially decrease germination success. Overall, temperate tree species with either high seed mass or nutritional value may experience substantial granivory beyond their range margin, partially explaining the observed lag between tree dispersal and climate change. Thus, granivory is vital to consider when modeling future tree species distributions under various climate change scenarios.

opencc-zeroDec 2023View details →

Data from: Elevational range sizes of woody plants increase with climate variability in the Tropical Andes

Aim: The climate variability hypothesis proposes that species subjected to wide variation in climatic conditions will evolve wider niches, resulting in larger distributions. We test this hypothesis in tropical plants across a broad elevational gradient; specifically, we use a species-level approach to evaluate whether elevational range sizes are explained by the levels of thermal variability experienced by species. Location: Central Andes Time period: Present day Taxon: Woody plants Methods: Combining data from 479 forest plots, we determined the elevational distributions of nearly 2300 species along an elevational gradient (~209 – 3800 m). For each species, we calculated the maximum annual variation in temperature experienced across its elevational distribution. We used phylogenetic generalized least square models to evaluate the effect of thermal variability on range size. Our models included additional covariates that might affect range size: body size, local abundance, mean temperature and total precipitation. We also considered interactions between thermal variability and mean temperature or precipitation. To account for geometric constraints, we repeated our analyses with a standardized measure of range size, calculated by comparing observed range sizes with values obtained from a null model. Results: Our results supported the main prediction of the climate variability hypothesis. Thermal variability had a strong positive effect on the range size, with species exposed to higher thermal variability having broader elevational distributions. Body size and local abundance also had positive, yet weak effects, on elevational range size. Furthermore, there was a strong positive interaction between thermal variability and mean annual temperature. Main conclusions: Thermal variability had an overriding importance in driving elevational range sizes of woody plants in the Central Andes. Moreover, the relationship between thermal variability and range size might be even stronger in warmer regions, underlining the potential vulnerability of tropical montane floras to the effects of global warming.