Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants
The distribution of plant species diversity has long been a major focus on biogeography. Yet, the universality of the popular Rapoport’s rule remains controversial for endemic plants, as previous studies have focused more on broad-ranged species. Here, we collected data for 4418 endemic woody seed p...
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doaj-739f89325a7d45a7acd355b2b977c8ae2020-11-25T02:50:31ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-09-01111029102910.3390/f11101029Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed PlantsHua Liu0Ruoyun Yu1Jihong Huang2Yibo Liu3Runguo Zang4Zhongjun Guo5Yi Ding6Xinghui Lu7Qian Li8Han Y. H. Chen9School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaSchool of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, The State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaSchool of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, The State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaInstitute of Forest Ecology, Xinjiang Forestry Academy, Urumqi 830000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, The State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, The State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaSchool of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaFaculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, CanadaThe distribution of plant species diversity has long been a major focus on biogeography. Yet, the universality of the popular Rapoport’s rule remains controversial for endemic plants, as previous studies have focused more on broad-ranged species. Here, we collected data for 4418 endemic woody seed plant species across China, including trees, shrubs, and lianas, to explore the latitudinal patterns of species range size and richness, and test the relevant biogeographic law. The species range size distribution was examined for conformity with Rapoport’s rule using four methods (i.e., Steven’s, Pagel’s, the mid-point, and the across-species method). Spatial patterns of species richness along latitudinal gradient were also investigated by parabolic regression. Results showed that species range size increased with latitude for all species as well as by trees, shrubs and lianas, especially assessed by Pagel’s method. Species richness was highest at low latitude, where species range size was smallest, and decreased with increasing latitude. The species range size and richness of shrubs were maximum, followed by trees then lianas. These findings prove that Rapoport’s rule is strongly supported by latitudinal patterns of species distribution in Chinese endemic woody seed plants.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/10/1029Chinaendemic woody seed plantsgeographic diversityRapoport’s rulespecies range sizespecies richness |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Hua Liu Ruoyun Yu Jihong Huang Yibo Liu Runguo Zang Zhongjun Guo Yi Ding Xinghui Lu Qian Li Han Y. H. Chen |
spellingShingle |
Hua Liu Ruoyun Yu Jihong Huang Yibo Liu Runguo Zang Zhongjun Guo Yi Ding Xinghui Lu Qian Li Han Y. H. Chen Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants Forests China endemic woody seed plants geographic diversity Rapoport’s rule species range size species richness |
author_facet |
Hua Liu Ruoyun Yu Jihong Huang Yibo Liu Runguo Zang Zhongjun Guo Yi Ding Xinghui Lu Qian Li Han Y. H. Chen |
author_sort |
Hua Liu |
title |
Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants |
title_short |
Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants |
title_full |
Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants |
title_fullStr |
Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants |
title_full_unstemmed |
Latitudinal Diversity Gradients and Rapoport Effects in Chinese Endemic Woody Seed Plants |
title_sort |
latitudinal diversity gradients and rapoport effects in chinese endemic woody seed plants |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Forests |
issn |
1999-4907 |
publishDate |
2020-09-01 |
description |
The distribution of plant species diversity has long been a major focus on biogeography. Yet, the universality of the popular Rapoport’s rule remains controversial for endemic plants, as previous studies have focused more on broad-ranged species. Here, we collected data for 4418 endemic woody seed plant species across China, including trees, shrubs, and lianas, to explore the latitudinal patterns of species range size and richness, and test the relevant biogeographic law. The species range size distribution was examined for conformity with Rapoport’s rule using four methods (i.e., Steven’s, Pagel’s, the mid-point, and the across-species method). Spatial patterns of species richness along latitudinal gradient were also investigated by parabolic regression. Results showed that species range size increased with latitude for all species as well as by trees, shrubs and lianas, especially assessed by Pagel’s method. Species richness was highest at low latitude, where species range size was smallest, and decreased with increasing latitude. The species range size and richness of shrubs were maximum, followed by trees then lianas. These findings prove that Rapoport’s rule is strongly supported by latitudinal patterns of species distribution in Chinese endemic woody seed plants. |
topic |
China endemic woody seed plants geographic diversity Rapoport’s rule species range size species richness |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/10/1029 |
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