Distribution of specimens and species richness of seed plants above timber line in the Hengduan Mountains, southwest China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.07390

Abstract

Abstract:

Herbaria can provide important information about the spatial distribution of plants, and are important data sources for estimating species richness. In this study we described elevational patterns of specimen frequencies and species richness of seed plants above timber line in the Hengduan Mountains and discussed the impact of specimen data on the estimation of species richness. Specimen data came from the online database ( http://hengduan.huh.harvard.edu) and herbaria. Elevations above timber line were divided into fourteen 100-m belts, and the frequencies of specimens in each elevational belt were recorded. There were 1,820 species and 8,316 specimens with elevational information, of which 655 species were endemic to this region. Distribution of specimens among species was extremely uneven. For example, 974 species (about 53.5% of total species) were represented by 1-2 specimens. Total and average number of specimens in elevational belts decreased linearly with the increasing elevation. Species richness also decreased with the increasing elevation, but species rarefaction curves were not useful for describing elevational patterns in species richness. We suggest that more field plot-sampling and specimen collections are needed to accurately estimate species richness.

Key words: Key words: elevational gradient, endemic species, plant specimen, species richness, species rarefaction curve

Dacai Zhang, Hang Sun. Distribution of specimens and species richness of seed plants above timber line in the Hengduan Mountains, southwest China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2008, 16(4): 381-388.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.07390

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2008/V16/I4/381

Figures/Tables 5

References 44

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科名 Families	种数 Number of species	属名 Genera	种数 Number of species
菊科 Compositae	184	马先蒿属 Pedicularis	136
玄参科 Scrophulariaceae	163	杜鹃花属 Rhododendron	83
毛茛科 Ranunculaceae	134	虎耳草属 Saxifraga	69
虎耳草科 Saxifragaceae	102	龙胆属 Gentiana	66
杜鹃花科 Ericaceae	100	柳属 Salix	55
龙胆科 Gentianaceae	93	风毛菊属 Saussurea	55
伞形科 Umbelliferae	90	报春属 Primula	50
石竹科 Caryophyllaceae	79	无心菜属 Arenaria	47
蔷薇科 Rosaceae	78	紫堇属 Corydalis	45
禾本科 Gramineae	77	乌头属 Aconitum	35
		翠雀属 Delphinium	35
合计 Total	1,100	合计 Total	676

科名 Families	种数 Number of species	属名 Genera	种数 Number of species
菊科 Compositae	184	马先蒿属 Pedicularis	136
玄参科 Scrophulariaceae	163	杜鹃花属 Rhododendron	83
毛茛科 Ranunculaceae	134	虎耳草属 Saxifraga	69
虎耳草科 Saxifragaceae	102	龙胆属 Gentiana	66
杜鹃花科 Ericaceae	100	柳属 Salix	55
龙胆科 Gentianaceae	93	风毛菊属 Saussurea	55
伞形科 Umbelliferae	90	报春属 Primula	50
石竹科 Caryophyllaceae	79	无心菜属 Arenaria	47
蔷薇科 Rosaceae	78	紫堇属 Corydalis	45
禾本科 Gramineae	77	乌头属 Aconitum	35
		翠雀属 Delphinium	35
合计 Total	1,100	合计 Total	676

科名 Families	种数 Number of species	属名 Genera	种数 Number of species
玄参科 Scrophulariaceae	80	马先蒿属 Pedicularis	72
菊科 Compositae	73	虎耳草属 Saxifraga	37
毛茛科 Ranunculaceae	67	无心菜属 Arenaria	34
虎耳草科 Saxifragaceae	47	紫堇属 Corydalis	33
石竹科 Caryophyllaceae	46	龙胆属 Gentiana	31
报春花科 Primulaceae	45	报春属 Primula	30
罂粟科 Papaveraceae	38	乌头属 Aconitum	26
龙胆科 Gentianaceae	36	翠雀属 Delphinium	26
杜鹃花科 Ericaceae	31	杜鹃花属 Rhododendron	26
十字花科 Cruciferae	27	风毛菊属 Saussurea	24
合计 Total	490	合计 Total	339

科名 Families	种数 Number of species	属名 Genera	种数 Number of species
玄参科 Scrophulariaceae	80	马先蒿属 Pedicularis	72
菊科 Compositae	73	虎耳草属 Saxifraga	37
毛茛科 Ranunculaceae	67	无心菜属 Arenaria	34
虎耳草科 Saxifragaceae	47	紫堇属 Corydalis	33
石竹科 Caryophyllaceae	46	龙胆属 Gentiana	31
报春花科 Primulaceae	45	报春属 Primula	30
罂粟科 Papaveraceae	38	乌头属 Aconitum	26
龙胆科 Gentianaceae	36	翠雀属 Delphinium	26
杜鹃花科 Ericaceae	31	杜鹃花属 Rhododendron	26
十字花科 Cruciferae	27	风毛菊属 Saussurea	24
合计 Total	490	合计 Total	339