Scale dependent aspects of plant diversity in semiarid high mountain regions

Meer over het boek

This book documents high mountain biodiversity in the Great Basin region of the southwestern United States, utilizing its sparsely populated small mountain ranges and arid valleys as a field laboratory. The contrast between alpine and desert environments across a quarter of North America results in a surprisingly rich flora. The alternating basins and mountain ranges provide an ideal framework for exploring patterns and processes in plant diversity through a multi-scale approach. The ecosystems of the Great Basin Ranges are introduced, and key triggers of plant diversity are evaluated across four observational scales, from micro to macro. Fundamental ecological principles of the region are clearly articulated, laying the groundwork for the conservation of its rich biotic resources. The high mountains of the world, compared to surrounding lowlands, are biodiversity hotspots, as illustrated in this study. The text emphasizes that the complex patterns and processes of plant diversity differ with the scale of observation, and the significance of driving mechanisms may shift with these changes. It also explores how various abiotic and biotic environmental factors interact and evolve along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients, influenced by different disturbance regimes and dynamic processes in the unique setting of the American Southwest.