Altitudinal Distribution Of Plants Research Articles

No adaptation to altitude in the invasive plant Erigeron annuus in the Swiss Alps

The altitudinal distribution of plants is restricted by various environmental factors, with climatic conditions being one of the primary constraints. Here, we investigate what limits the altitudinal range of the introduced species Erigeron annuus in the Swiss Alps. We planted offspring of E. annuus plants originating from different altitudes into two common gardens, one located at an altitude representing the main area of distribution (400 m) and the other close to the current altitudinal limit of E. annuus in Switzerland (1000 m). In both common gardens all established plants survived and grew vigorously during the growing season. However, there was high winter mortality of seedlings at 1000 m. Furthermore, plant phenology was delayed and reproductive output was reduced at 1000 m, although the seeds produced were larger. The general lack of adaptation to altitude and only moderate levels of plasticity suggest that there is little potential for E. annuus to persist beyond its current altitudinal limit in the Swiss Alps. However, climate warming might promote the upward range expansion of E. annuus by reducing winter mortality and by increasing the chance of producing seeds within the growing season.

Tournefort and the Latitudinal and Altitudinal Distribution of Plants

TOURNEFORT has generally had the credit of being the first to indicate a parallelism in the latitudinal and altitudinal distribution of plants; yet it would seem without sufficient ground. Linnæus mentions (“Flora Lapponica,” Proleg. n. 14) that certain plants grow on Mount Ararat as well as in Lapland. Later (in 1751), in his “Oratio de Tellure Habitabili” (“Amœnitates Academicæ,” ii. p. 447) he distinctly connects Tournefort with latitudinal and altitudinal distribution of plants, and in such a way as to convey the impression that it was Tournefort's idea. Here follows the paragraph:—“Memoratu dignissimum est, quod refert in Itinerario suo Orientali Tournefortius: reperisse se nimirum apud radices Ararati montis plantas illas quæ in Armenia erant vulgares: aliquantum progressus illas invenit, quas in Italia ante viderat: altius scandenti ofterebantur Vegetabilia circa Lutetiam Parisiorum crescentia: Plantæ Suecicæ erant superiori loco positæ. Sed summum montis locum proxime ad culmen, nive obtectum, plantæ illæ occuparant, quæ sunt alpibus Helveticis et Lapponicis domesticæ.”