Landform and lithospheric development contribute to the assembly of mountain floras in China

Mountain floras in China exhibit distinct assembly patterns influenced by geological processes. Research reveals that igneous bedrock, such as granitic and karst-granitic landforms, fosters higher species richness and phylogenetic overdispersion, while sedimentary bedrock, including karst, Danxia, and desert landforms, promotes phylogenetic clustering. The study, based on a dataset of 17,576 angiosperm species across 140 Chinese mountain floras, demonstrates that landform type is the primary determinant for older species, whereas climate plays a greater role in younger species. This finding challenges traditional views and introduces the 'floristic geo-lithology hypothesis,' which emphasizes the critical role of bedrock and landform processes in shaping montane biodiversity. The research provides new insights into speciation, migration, and biodiversity dynamics in mountainous regions.

Zhao, W.-Y., Liu, Z.-C., Shi, S., Li, J.-L., Xu, K.-W., Huang, K.-Y., Chen, Z.-H., Wang, Y.-R., Huang, C.-Y., Wang, Y., Chen, J.-R., Sun, X.-L., Liang, W.-X., Guo, W., Wang, L.-Y., Meng, K.-K., Li, X.-J., Yin, Q.-Y., Zhou, R.-C., et al. (2024). Landform and lithospheric development contribute to the assembly of mountain floras in China. Nature Communications, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49522-4