Plant diversity and foliar elemental profiles in relation to soil chemistry and altitude on ultramafic edaphic islands in Kinabalu Park (Malaysia)

Kinabalu Park, a global biodiversity hotspot, harbors exceptionally high plant diversity on ultramafic outcrops, with 2854 species recorded. These outcrops host distinct vegetation classes linked to soil chemistry, including hypermagnesian and serpentinite soils, which support unique species assemblages despite adverse conditions. Notably, hyperaccumulator plants exhibit extreme Ni concentrations (up to 16.9% in phloem exudate), suggesting an ecophysiological adaptation rather than a random distribution. These findings highlight the park's ultramafic soils as drivers of plant evolution and potential candidates for phytomining, while also revealing the ecological significance of soil chemistry in shaping biodiversity.

Van der Ent, A. Plant diversity and foliar elemental profiles in relation to soil chemistry and altitude on ultramafic edaphic islands in Kinabalu Park (Malaysia). https://doi.org/10.14264/uql.2017.611