Alpine Flora Research Articles

Rapid assessment of future habitat suitability: A case-study of the Snowy Mountains endemic alpine flora using the Biodiversity and Climate Change Virtual Library (BCCVL)

Rapid assessment of future habitat suitability: A case-study of the Snowy Mountains endemic alpine flora using the Biodiversity and Climate Change Virtual Library (BCCVL)

Molecular control of masting: an introduction to an epigenetic summer memory.

Mast flowering ('masting') is characterized by mass synchronized flowering at irregular intervals in populations of perennial plants over a wide geographical area, resulting in irregular high seed production. While masting is a global phenomenon, it is particularly prevalent in the alpine flora of New Zealand. Increases in global temperature may alter the masting pattern, affecting wider communities with a potential impact on plant-pollinator interactions, seed set and food availability for seed-consuming species. This review summarizes an ecological temperature model (ΔT) that is being used to predict the intensity of a masting season. We introduce current molecular studies on flowering and the concept of an 'epigenetic summer memory' as a driver of mast flowering. We propose a hypothetical model based on temperature-associated epigenetic modifications of the floral integrator genes FLOWERING LOCUS T, FLOWERING LOCUS C and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1. Genome-wide transcriptomic and targeted gene expression analyses are needed to establish the developmental and physiological processes associated with masting. Such analyses may identify changes in gene expression that can be used to predict the intensity of a forthcoming masting season, as well as to determine the extent to which climate change will influence the mass synchronized flowering of masting species, with downstream impacts on their associated communities.

Global warming threatens conservation status of alpine EU habitat types in the European Eastern Alps

At the European level, the Natura 2000 habitat network is the main instrument for preserving and protecting species and habitats. However, protected areas are fixed in location, and environmental conditions continually subject to change. Changing conditions force species to shift their geographic distribution or to adapt to new conditions, ultimately causing a change in the composition of the habitats’ species. We modelled the response of two important alpine EU habitat types (6150, 6170) in the Styrian Eastern Alps to increasing temperatures using two representative concentration pathways (rcp 4.5 and rcp 8.5) of the regional climate model CCLM4-8-17 CLMcom. Our results confirmed that climate change within the next several decades will have an immediate and profound impact on the Alpine flora and their habitats. The niche models indicate a dramatic reduction in the habitat suitability of 15 habitat diagnostic species before the end of the twenty-first century. Habitat change was found to be slower inside protected areas in the first half of the twenty-first century, while in the second half of the twenty-first century, suitable habitat conditions either remained constant for the lower temperature scenario (rcp 4.5) or shifted to “outside” current protected areas in the severe scenario (rcp 8.5). Regions of rapidly changing habitat suitability and subsequently shifting species composition can be found both inside and outside of the protected area network. These developments may lead to the deterioration of the conservation status of habitat types and challenge the aims of the EU habitat directive.

Population history of European mountain pines Pinus mugo and Pinus uncinata revealed by mitochondrial DNA markers

AbstractThe dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo) and the Pyrenean pine (P. uncinata) constitute a pair of closely related coniferous taxa of poorly resolved evolutionary history and affinity, which inhabit numerous stands scattered over subalpine environments of European mountain ranges. The aim of the study was to investigate their phylogeography and mutual relationships, shedding new light on their taxonomy and the past of the alpine flora. Previous evolutionary reconstructions of the mountain pines relied mainly on bi‐parentally or paternally inherited markers that quickly homogenize between populations, showing rather shallow and recent differentiation of gene pools. Therefore, to contrast these pictures, we analyzed diversity and differentiation within a large set of new mitochondrial loci, inherited in maternal line and distributed by seeds at short geographical distances. Samples of the taxa were taken from 27 natural populations representing their range‐wide distributions—17 populations of P. mugo and 10 of P. uncinata. All markers appeared polymorphic, providing a total of 31 multilocus haplotypes. Two of the loci proved to be species‐diagnostic and nearly fixed between analyzed samples. Distribution of mitotypes indicate that allopatric populations of the taxa constitute separate mitochondrial haplogroups, and the two mountain pines have independent evolutionary history. However, introgression of P. mugo mitotypes by P. uncinata specimens revealed in the species contact zone in Western Alps shows that their speciation is not fully completed.

Increasing phylogenetic stochasticity at high elevations on summits across a remote North American wilderness.

At the intersection of ecology and evolutionary biology, community phylogenetics can provide insights into overarching biodiversity patterns, particularly in remote and understudied ecosystems. To understand community assembly of the high alpine flora in the Sawtooth National Forest, USA, we analyzed phylogenetic structure within and between nine summit communities. We used high-throughput sequencing to supplement existing data and infer a nearly completely sampled community phylogeny of the alpine vascular flora. We calculated mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) and mean pairwise distance (MPD) to quantify phylogenetic divergence within summits, and assessed whether maximum elevation explains phylogenetic structure. To evaluate similarities between summits, we quantified phylogenetic turnover, taking into consideration microhabitats (talus vs. meadows). We found different patterns of community phylogenetic structure within the six most species-rich orders, but across all vascular plants phylogenetic structure was largely not different from random. There was a significant negative correlation between elevation and tree-wide phylogenetic diversity (MPD) within summits: overdispersion degraded as elevation increased. Between summits, we found high phylogenetic turnover driven by greater niche heterogeneity on summits with alpine meadows. Our results provide further evidence that stochastic processes may also play an important role in the assembly of vascular plant communities in high alpine habitats at regional scales. However, order-specific patterns suggest that adaptations are still important for assembly of specific sectors of the plant tree of life. Further studies quantifying functional diversity will be important in disentangling the interplay of eco-evolutionary processes that likely shape broad community phylogenetic patterns in extreme environments.

Rapid changes in eastern Himalayan alpine flora with climate change.

With biodiversity and rates of climate change among the highest, the eastern Himalaya are critical for understanding the interaction of these two variables. However, there is a dearth of longitudinal data sets that address the effects of climate change on the exceptional alpine biodiversity of the Himalaya. We established permanent alpine vegetation monitoring plots in three mountain chains of the Hengduan Mountains, the easternmost Himalaya, which have warmed 0.03-0.05°C yr-1 since 1985. Recently, we resampled plots (176 1-m2 quadrat plots and 88 sections of 11 summits in three Hengduan mountain chains) to measure changes in vegetation after 7 years. Over 7 years, Tibetan alpine vegetation increased in number of species (+8 species/summit; +2.3 species/m2 ), in frequency (+47.8 plants/m2 ), and in diversity (+1.6 effective species/m2 ). Stepwise regressions indicated that warmer temperatures, southerly aspects, and higher elevations were associated with greater increases in these vegetation metrics. Unexpectedly, Himalayan endemic species increased (+1.4 species/m2 ; +8.5 plants/m2 ), especially on higher-elevation summits. In contrast, the increase in relative abundance of non-alpine species was greater at lower-elevation summits. Plants used by local Tibetans also increased (+1.3 species/m2 ; +32 plants/m2 ). As in other alpine areas, biodiversity is increasing with climate change in the Himalaya. Unlike other areas, endemic species are proliferating at the highest summits and are indicators of change.

Таксономічна та біолого-екологічна оцінка видів альпійських рослин на кам'янистій гірці Вінницького національного аграрного університету

Підібрано 39 видів рослин для створення кам'янистої гірки. Серед них 5 видів є дикорослими в умовах Поділля, а інші 34 види інтродуковані з інших зон і культивовані в наших умовах. Охарактеризовано, що природним ареалом походження досліджуваних рослин є: Китай, Японія, Корея, Азія, Росія, Сибір, Далекий Схід, Україна, Балкани. Переважна частина інтродуцентів походить із Північної Америки, Європи та Кавказу. Визначено, що всі підібрані інтродуценти добре ростуть та розвиваються в умовах Поділля. Встановлено, що всі підібрані дикорослі рослини Поділля відмінно прижилися на кам'янистій гірці. Досліджено, що переважаючим у таксономічній структурі культивованої флори кам'янистої гірки є відділ Magnoliophyta – 38 видів. Таксономічний аналіз показав, що панівними за кількістю таксонів є родини Crassulaceae (9 видів) і Rosaceae (4 види). Серед підібраних рослин для влаштування кам'янистої гірки відносно вологи переважають мезофіти (22 види або 56 % від загальної кількості), щодо світла переважають світлолюбні види – 90 % (35 видів), а що до температури повітря – морозостійкі рослини. Доведено, щоб кам'яниста гірка мала привабливий декоративний вигляд у будь-який сезон. Потрібно правильно розташувати на ній рослини, які у період цвітіння будуть гармонійно поєднуватись між собою. Підібраний асортимент рослин забезпечує цвітіння кам'янистої гірки, починаючи з третьої декади лютого і завершуючи в останню декаду жовтня.

Lost at high latitudes: Arctic and endemic plants under threat as climate warms

AbstractAimSpecies’ biogeographical patterns are already being altered by climate change. Here, we provide predictions of the impacts of a changing climate on species’ geographical ranges within high‐latitude mountain flora on a sub‐continental scale. We then examined the forecasted changes in relation to species’ biogeographic histories.LocationFennoscandia, Northern Europe (55–72°N).MethodsWe examined the sensitivity of 164 high‐latitude mountain species to changing climate by modelling their distributions in regard to climate, local topography and geology at a 1 km2 resolution. Using an ensemble of six statistical modelling techniques and data on current (1981–2010) and future (2070–2099) climate based on three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs 2.6, 4.5, 8.5), we developed projections of current and future ranges.ResultsThe average species richness of the mountain flora is predicted to decrease by 15%–47% per 1 km2 cell, depending on the climate scenario considered. Arctic flora is projected to undergo severe range loss along with non‐poleward range contractions, while alpine flora is forecasted to find suitable habitat in a warmer North. A substantial majority (71%–92%) of the studied species are projected to lose more than half of their present range by the year 2100. Species predicted to lose all suitable habitat had ranges centred in the northernmost (>68°N) part of continental Europe.Main conclusionsClimate change is predicted to substantially diminish the extent and richness of Europe's high‐latitude mountain flora. Interestingly, species' biogeographic histories affect their vulnerability to climate change. The vulnerability of true Arctic and endemic species marks them as highly important for conservation decisions.

Istraživanja populacije višegodišnje biljke Vavilovia formosa (Fabaceae) na planini Aknasar (Gegamska visoravan) i u ex situ uslovima botaničkih bašta Jermenije

Wild perennial pea Vavilovia formosa is a relic and an endangered species of the upper alpine flora of Armenia, specialized to scree habitats. The populations of V. formosa in Armenia, as well as in other sites of the world, are in danger of extinction and need both in situ and ex situ complementary investigation and conservation. Present article contains information on V. formosa Aknasar mountain population studies. Data on natural conditions, flora composition, ecological and coenotic characteristic of the habitat and bio-ecological features of V. formosa are given. The present state of Vavilovia population of mountain Aknasar is satisfactory. The activation of seed reproduction along with vegetative propagation is observed. One of the natural threats leading to the change and reduction of Vavilovia population was estimated to be the overgrowing of mobile scree habitats with turf-forming grasses, which creates conditions for the mountain-meadow vegetation development. V. formosa ex situ conservation strategy is one of the possible ways of its adaptive capacity estimation to environment changes as well as for its saving and using in basic and applied researches. An introductory experiment on the cultivation of Vavilovia in the Yerevan and Sevan Botanical Gardens has started, and some data on bio-morphological and eco-physiological peculiarities under ex situ conditions were obtained.

Glacial refugia and speciation in a group of wind-pollinated and -dispersed, endemic Alpine species of Helictotrichon (Poaceae).

In the Alps phylogeographic studies indicate for small insect-pollinated herbs that climatic fluctuations caused significant population migrations and fragmentations into glacial refugia at the periphery of the Alps. Here we investigate whether this holds also for wind-pollinated and -dispersed species. We therefore analysed the phylogeographic pattern (nuclear and chloroplast dataset) of a clade of the four species of the Helictotrichon parlatorei species group (Poaceae) endemic to the Alps. In contrast to earlier findings for small insect-pollinated herbs no clear barriers to gene flow could be detected in this species group. Instead a few haplotypes are widespread across the entire Alpine region. While the complete absence of a phylogeographic structure in the plastid dataset hints towards very efficient long distance seed dispersal, the moderate phylogeographic structure in the nuclear dataset indicates at least some spatial restriction to pollen dispersal. Rare haplotypes cluster solely in the Western and Southern central Alps and thereby suggest this to be the area of origin for the H. parlatorei species group from where expansion occurred following the presence of calcareous bedrock into the Eastern Alps. We thus conclude that the inclusion of taxa with complementary life-history traits is vital in understanding the glacial history of the Alpine flora.

Spatial patterns and diversity of the alpine flora of Deosai Plateau, Western Himalayas

Spatial patterns and diversity of the alpine flora of Deosai Plateau, Western Himalayas

Kuschelysius, a New Alpine Genus of Eugnomine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae) from New Zealand

Kuschelysius new genus is described for four species, K. hollowayae new species, K. durus new species, K. verbalis new species and K. nitens new species, which are found in alpine regions along the length of the South Island of New Zealand. The genus most closely resembles members of the genus Eugnomus but is distinguished from them by the presence of a small pair of post-ocular tubercles and by having appressed scales on the dorsal surfaces. Some members of Kuschelysius appear to be flight-capable with well-developed hindwings, while others have reduced hindwings and are presumably flightless. Many specimens have been collected from the flowers of Dracophyllum traversii, Celmisia and other alpine plants, and the guts of examined specimens contained pollen. We hypothesise that the species of Kuschelysius are pollinators of the New Zealand alpine flora.

Threat and protection status analysis of the alpine flora of the Pyrenees

Threat and protection statuses have been analyzed for the Alpine vascular flora of the Pyrenees, i.e., species that live mainly 2,300 masl (Alpine and Subnival levels). They have been cataloged as 387 different taxa (onwards: Alpine Flora Catalogue, AFC), many of them of conservationist interest, especially in the Iberian context, due to the abundance of endemisms and relict populations.This analysis presents an added difficulty derived from this territory’s administrative situation. The region extends over three countries: Spain, France and Andorra. The first two are divided into four autonomous communities and three regions, respectively.Threat and protection statuses have been assessed according to the presence of AFC species in Red Lists (Spain: RL 2010, Andorra: RL 2008 and France: RL 2012) and catalogues of protected species. In the latter case, it has been analyzed at national level (Spain: LWSSPR-SCTS and France: LPPSNT) and regional level: Spanish autonomous communities and French regions. Andorra lacks catalogue of protected flora.Results demonstrate that, of the 387 AFC species, 46 (12%) are included in some of the national red lists: 8 Spain, 30 Andorra and 13 France. None of the 8 Spanish threatened species appears in the LWSSPR, and in France only 3 of the 13 threatened are protected. In Andorra, none. With respect to threat status: 11 are CR (2 Spain + 9 Andorra +1 France); 11 EN (1 Spain + 8 Andorra + 2 France) and 27 VU (5 Spain + 13 Andorra + 10 France).At national level, there are 14 protected taxa: 3 Spain, and 13 France. Atregional level, there are 52 protected taxa in some of the lists from Spain and 47 from France, The Basque Country and Midi-Pyrenees are the AACC with more number of protected species.

Does current climate explain plant disjunctions? A test using the New Zealand alpine flora

AbstractAimMore than 90% of plant species found in New Zealand's alpine environment are endemic to New Zealand. Two particularly species‐rich regions of high endemism are located at the northern and southern ends of the South Island and several vascular alpine plant species show clear disjunct distributions between these two regions. The aim of this study was to test the ability of a climatic hypothesis to explain these disjunct distributions and to identify if the central South Island acts as a climatic barrier.LocationAlpine South Island, New Zealand.MethodsThe South Island was divided into three regions (northern, central, southern) following an established biogeographical delineation of centres of endemism. Published data were used to quantify current climatic conditions and to obtain occurrence records of all plant species occurring in the alpine areas. We first calculated overall similarity in climate and in vegetation composition above and below the tree line between the three regions. We then assessed climate niche overlap between regions for five congeneric pairs of disjunct and continuous plant species found both above and below the tree line.ResultsWhile there were broad scale similarities in climate between northern and southern centres of endemism, particular above the tree line, the central region does not appear sufficiently dissimilar to the climate of the endemism centres to conclude that it might act as a barrier between populations of the disjunct species investigated here. Instead, we showed that in geographically separated areas, disjunct species occupy less similar climates than species with a continuous range, possibly indicating a niche shift of the disjunct populations in the separated areas.Main conclusionsOur study found no support for current climate constraining the distribution of disjunct species. For all species examined, overlap existed between the climate niche of at least one disjunct northern or southern population and the climatic conditions of the central region. This overlap in climate space suggests that other abiotic and/or biotic factors are preventing the spread of disjunct species into the central South Island endemism gap.

Post‐glacial East Asian origin of the alpine shrub Phyllodoce aleutica (Ericaceae) in Beringia

AbstractAimThe ice‐free area around the Bering Land Bridge, Beringia, has been noted as an important refugium of organisms preferring cold environments such as arctic‐alpine plants throughout the Pleistocene climate oscillations. Although numerous phylogeographical studies have supported this refugium, recent studies have challenged the idea of a homogeneous refugium in Beringia. We aim to examine a novel scenario of the post‐glacial colonization history of an alpine plant Phyllodoce aleutica in Beringia.LocationThe Japanese Archipelago, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska.MethodThe range‐wide genetic structure of P. aleutica was elucidated by sequencing 13 nuclear loci. The phylogeographical history was inferred using model‐based approaches based on coalescent simulations together with the potential distributions predicted by ecological niche modelling.ResultsBayesian clustering and phylogenetic networks revealed that P. aleutica was divided into three geographically structured groups: the main island of the Japanese Archipelago, the northern island of the archipelago (Hokkaido) and Beringia, including eastern Hokkaido. The demographic history underlying the genetic structure and the potential distributions at present and during Last Glacial Maximum suggest that their divergence likely predated the last glacial period. Except for genetic admixture with the sister species Phyllodoce glanduliflora, populations in Alaska exhibited lower genetic diversity than those in East Asia and exclusively shared two widespread genotypes. Approximate Bayesian computation showed that a demographic model postulating post‐glacial expansion into Alaska fit better than alternative models.Main conclusionsOur study suggests that P. aleutica in eastern Beringia originated through post‐glacial colonization from East Asia, providing novel insight into the biogeographical history of alpine flora in Beringia.

Effects of grazing abandonment and climate change on mountain summits flora: a case study in the Tatra Mts

Changes in the local flora of mountains are often explained by climate warming, but changes in grazing regimes may also be important. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the alpine flora on summits in the Tatra Mts, Poland and Slovakia, has changed over the last 100 years, and if the observed changes are better explained by changes in sheep grazing or climate. We resurveyed the flora of 14 mountain summits initially investigated in the years 1878–1948. We used ordination methods to quantify changes in species composition. We tested whether changes in plant species composition could be explained by cessation of grazing and climate change, and whether these factors have influenced shifts in Ellenberg’s plant ecological indicator values and Raunkiaer’s life forms. Changes in alpine flora were greater on lower elevation summits, and lower on summits less accessible for sheep. More accessible summits were associated with a decrease in mean values of plant species’ light ecological indicator values over time, and a concurrent increase in temperature and nitrogen ecological indicator values. No significant relationships were found between accessibility for sheep and changes in Raunkiaer’s life-forms. Greater accessibility for sheep (meaning high historical grazing pressure) led to greater compositional changes of mountain summits compared with summits with low accessibility. Our results suggest that cessation of sheep grazing was the main factor causing changes in the species composition of resurveyed mountain summits in the Tatra Mts, while climate change played a more minor role.

Influence of mountain geomorphology on alpine ecosystems in the Drakensberg Alpine Centre, Southern Africa

ABSTRACTIn the Drakensberg Range of eastern Lesotho, periglacial sorted circles, stone-banked and turf-banked lobes, blockfields, block streams and wetland thúfur (earth hummocks) are present. These features are of varying ages (likely from Last Glacial Maximum to contemporary) and have been disturbed by soil formation and vegetation growth. This study uses a mixed methodology to investigate relationships between periglacial landforms, slope aspect and their associated ecosystems, and the relative age relationships of these components at Mafadi Peak on the Lesotho–South Africa border. A distinctive alpine flora, belonging to the Drakensberg Alpine Centre of the wider Afromontane phytochorion, is found in association with different periglacial landforms. Vegetation quadrat analysis shows that slope and aspect have no significant effect on vegetation cover, plant species abundance and bare ground cover. The most likely microscale relationships are with surface geomorphic features. The relative surface hardness and thus age of clasts within and outside of the stone/turf-banked lobes show that even within single landforms, variations in weathering exist, likely related to episodic and seasonal alpine cryoturbation. Major soil physical properties (grain size, organic and C/N content) and soil depth were measured. Weathering and soil development, influenced by climate, provide a substrate for a nutrient-deficient, sparse alpine flora and vegetation assemblage. The relationships between periglacial geomorphology and alpine ecosystems are not well understood from southern African high mountain regions, but are important with respect to ecosystem responses to ongoing climate change.

Spatial patterns of genetic diversity among Australian alpine flora communities revealed by comparative phylogenomics

AbstractAimThe alpine region of mainland Australia is one of the world's 187 biodiversity hotspots. Genetic analyses of Australian alpine fauna indicate high levels of endemism on fine spatial scales, unlike Northern Hemisphere alpine systems where shallow genetic differentiation is typically observed among populations. These discrepancies have been attributed to differences in elevation and influence from glacial activity, and point to a unique phylogeographic history affecting Australian alpine biodiversity. To test generality of these findings across Australian alpine biota, we assessed patterns of genetic structure across plant species.LocationThe Australian Alps, Victoria, eastern Australia.MethodsWe used an economical pooled genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) approach to examine patterns of genetic diversity among seven widespread species including shrubs and forbs from 16 mountain summits in the Australian Alpine National Park. Patterns of genetic structure among summit populations for each species were inferred from an average of 2,778 independentSNPloci using Bayesian phylogenomic inference and clustering approaches.ResultsSNPresults were consistent across species in identifying deep evolutionary splits among summit communities from the Northern and Central Victorian Alpine regions. These patterns of genetic structure are also consistent with those previously reported for invertebrate and mammal taxa. However, local genetic structure was less pronounced in the plants, supporting the notion that population connectivity tends to be higher in plant species.Main conclusionThere is deep lineage diversification between the North and Central Victorian Alpine regions, reflecting a high level of endemism. These findings differ from those reported for alpine biodiversity from New South Wales and much of the Northern Hemisphere, and support the notion that genetic diversity is typically greatest in areas least affected by historical ice sheet formation. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of conservation planning, and highlight the benefits of this rapid and cost‐effective genome scan approach for characterizing evolutionary processes at multispecies and landscape scales.

Distribución espacial y análisis ambiental de la flora alpina en los Pirineos

La reciente edición del “Atlas digital de Flora vascular de los Pirineos” (www.florapyrenaea.org) permite delimitar la flora alpina para conocer su diversidad, su distribución espacial y algunas características ambientales. La flora alpina de los Pirineos está formada por 645 taxones (630 especies y 15 subespecies). Todas las regiones administrativas muestran más del 60% de las plantas y Cataluña y Aragón tienen la mayor representación (sobre el 90%). En el gradiente altitudinal la mayor diversidad se encuentra entre 2300 y 2500 m, pero un 25% supera los 3000 m. Por otra parte, sorprende el número de plantas alpinas que se encuentran en los niveles altitudinales más bajos: más de 300 plantas viven por debajo de los 1500 m. El rango medio altitudinal de la flora alpina es de 1369 m, 300 m más amplio que el del conjunto de la flora pirenaica. Las formas biológicas, distribución por hábitats y naturalidad de los hábitats de la flora alpina es diferente significativamente del conjunto de la flora. Las categorías de abundancia difieren también significativamente y muestran un menor grado de rareza entre las plantas alpinas que en el conjunto de la flora. Más de la mitad de los endemismos pirenaicos están presentes en la flora alpina. La alta diversidad y amplitud ecológica de la flora alpina debe ser considerada a la hora de evaluar su fragilidad frente al “cambio global” y de definir políticas de conservación desde una perspectiva común para toda la Cordillera.

Contribution to the knowledge on the flora of Munkhkhairkhan mountain area, Mongolia

The Munkhkhairkhan mountain area is a unique highland ecosystem with a diverse regional alpine flora. This mountain habitat is located at the overlap of different floristic regions: on its western side Kazakhstan–Turan flora is dominating, and on the eastern side East Asian flora is observed. It is known that the whole area has a large number of endemics and rare plant species, because of its specific, harsh habitat conditions. Therefore, the flora of different habitats in the Munkhkhairkhan mountain needs to be investigated and properly protected. Munkhkhairkhan National Park has been founded in 2006, and our survey concentrated on the protected area as well as the surrounding areas of the mountains. All recorded species in this study were based on the collected voucher specimens. Conservation status for remarkable species was also reviewed based on the literature. As a result, we recorded 40 families, 150 genera, and 267 species of vascular plants, including four endemic and 34 subendemic species and 15 species' new distribution notes. Around the Munkhkhairkhan mountain, 16 very rare, 21 rare, eight endangered, and two near threatened species are growing, indicating the high conservation value of this area and the necessity for research.