Plants at mid-elevations more likely to be spiny: study
Chinese researchers have disclosed that the plants at mid-elevations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are more likely to be spiny, according to a recent study paper published in the Journal of Biogeography.
The researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences collected and analyzed data for 10,622 angiosperm species ranging from altitudes of 600 meters to 6,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
They also quantified the association between spinescent plants and mammalian herbivore richness, because spinescent plants are thought to be especially effective at defending against mammalian herbivores.
The result showed the highest proportion of spinescent species occurred at mid-elevations where the highest herbivorous mammal richness existed.
The positive relation suggested that more herbivorous mammals might favor spinescent plants at mid-elevations.
The findings are expected to support the analysis of the potential causes of elevation gradients in plant diversity, said the paper.
Related News
-
New plateau airport in SW China completes constructionTerminal construction of a new plateau airport in Sichuan Province was completed.
-
Wildlife thriving in high plateauDiverse wildlife in close proximity to domesticated herds of animals in the Tibet autonomous region ar...
-
First environmental protection postal route launched on Qinghai-Tibet PlateauThe first environmental protection postal route along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway was launched Wednesday.
-
Plateau city Lhasa receives over 1 mln visitors in Q1More than one million visits were made by domestic and overseas tourists to Lhasa, capital of southwes...
-
Researchers discover traces of ancient Denisovans on Qinghai-Tibet PlateauChinese and overseas researchers said a fossil on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is believed to belong to t...
-
[Internet Plus on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau] Stories of ordinary dream chasersThe magic power of mobile Internet is deeply affecting the whole world, and the Qinghai-Tibet plateau ...
Tibet Stories
70 Years on: Pema Tserings' journey of pursuing study
Even though it’s been 64 years, retired Xizang MinzuUniversity professor Chen Qinfu still r...
