Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome

Frontiers in Plant Science

Sebastian eLeuzinger¹  Stephen Brian Pointing¹  Len eGillman¹  Peter eConvey²  Warwick F. Vincent³  Christian eKoerner⁴  Burkhard eBuedel⁵ 

[1] Auckland University of Technology;British Antarctic Survey;Universite Laval;University of Basel;University of Kaiserslauten;

关键词: Cyanobacteria;    Arctic;    Antarctica;    Bryophytes;    cryptogams;    plant biogeography;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2015.00692

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how temporal, microclimate and evolutionary drivers of biogeography are important, rather than the macroclimate features that drive plant diversity patterns elsewhere.High polar ecosystems are biologically unique, with a more central role for bryophytes, lichens and microbial photoautotrophs over that of vascular plants. Constraints on vascular plants arise mainly due to stature and ontogenetic barriers. Conversely non-vascular plant and microbial photoautotroph distribution is correlated with favourable microclimates and the capacity for poikilohydric dormancy. Contemporary distribution also depends on evolutionary history, with adaptive and dispersal traits as well as legacy influencing biogeography. We highlight the relevance of these findings to predicting future impacts on polar plant diversity and to the current status of plants in Arctic and Antarctic conservation policy frameworks.

【 授权许可】

Unknown