Altitude-driven variations in chrysophycean stomatocyst assemblages: Implications for climate reconstructions in the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area, China

Chrysophycean stomatocyst assemblages from high mountain lakes in the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area (TPRYPA) demonstrate significant potential as indicators for climate reconstructions. The study identified 194 morphotypes and found that altitude is a key environmental gradient influencing cyst composition, with notable shifts at 3200 m and 4400 m. A cyst-based inference model using weighted-averaging method achieved a cross-validated jack-knifed-R² of 0.60, suggesting that these cysts can effectively predict altitude and climate variability in alpine regions. This research highlights the utility of chrysophycean stomatocysts as powerful tools for understanding feedback mechanisms between low-latitude and high-altitude areas in the context of global climate change.

Li, Y., Liu, Q., Pan, Y., & Pang, W. (2024). Altitude-driven variations in chrysophycean stomatocyst assemblages: Implications for climate reconstructions in the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area, China. Ecological Indicators, 167, 112729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112729