Unimodal Pattern Research Articles

Unraveling Microbial Drivers of Lacustrine N2O Emissions under Synergistic Warming and Eutrophication: Community Dynamics and Functional Gene Responses.

Climate warming and eutrophication reshape nitrogen cycling in lakes, yet their combined impacts on lacustrine N2O source-sink dynamics and underlying microbial drivers remain poorly resolved. Here, a controlled microcosm experiment was constructed to explore the interaction and microbial mechanism of warming (+4 °C) and nutrient enrichment (low, middle, and high nutrient gradients) to N2O emissions. We demonstrate that, compared to warming or eutrophication alone, their synergistic interaction amplified N2O flux by 100-fold and 3.5-fold, respectively. Nutrient loading exerts a dominant control over the regulation of N2O dynamics, surpassing that of warming. Mechanistically, eutrophication elevates substrate availability, while warming enhances microbial utilization thresholds, synergistically escalating N2O emissions. Microbial analyses reveal that nutrient enrichment increases (nirK + nirS)/nosZ and amoA abundance, whereas warming stimulates microbial enzyme activity. These dual stressors collaboratively reshape the microbial community structure, accelerating N2O metabolic rates. In addition, thermal stimulation enhances the gas diffusion coefficient and accelerates the release of N2O from the aqueous phase. Warming could cause the N2O emissions shift from a unimodal nonlinear pattern to linearity with elevated eutrophic level. Our findings establish a mechanistic framework linking climate-nutrient interactions to microbial N-cycling, providing critical insights for predicting and mitigating lacustrine N2O emissions in warming ecosystems. Warming shifts lake N2O emissions from nonlinear to linear patterns with increased nutrient levels via microbial dynamics, informing nutrient management for climate-resilient waters.

Impact of freshwater discharges on the abundance and spatial distribution of moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) in Yellow River Estuary, China.

Impact of freshwater discharges on the abundance and spatial distribution of moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) in Yellow River Estuary, China.

Linking growth dynamics and intra-annual density fluctuations to late-summer precipitation in humid subtropical China

Global warming has intensified extreme rainfall events and prolonged droughts, significantly impacting tree growth and wood formation. This study investigates the effects of late-summer precipitation variability on the intra-annual growth dynamics of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Cryptomeria fortunei in humid subtropical China. Microcores were collected from 12 trees at 7–10 days intervals between March and December from 2021 to 2023 in the Gushan Mountains. Typically, high temperatures and rainfall deficits in July induce cambial dormancy, while subsequent rainfall in August and September reactivates growth, resulting in a bimodal growth pattern. However, in 2022, an unprecedented drought (August–October rainfall 77% below average) shortened the growing season, causing an early cessation of growth and a rare unimodal growth pattern. In contrast, persistent rainfall in 2023 accelerated cell enlargement to 7 μm d-¹ and significantly increased latewood intra-annual density fluctuations (L-IADFs). Notably, despite abundant late-summer rainfall in 2021, L-IADFs did not form, indicating a nonlinear and inconsistent relationship between rainfall and L-IADFs. These findings highlight the critical role of late-summer precipitation variability in shaping tree growth patterns and wood density in southeastern China. Given the expected increase in precipitation variability under climate change, regional forest ecosystems may become more vulnerable. This study provides valuable insights for forest management strategies to enhance resilience and mitigate climate-related risks.

Effects of the Light-Felling Intensity on Hydrological Processes in a Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis) Forest on Changbai Mountain in China

(1) Background: Understanding how forest management practices regulate hydrological cycles is critical for sustainable water resource management and addressing global water crises. However, the effects of light-felling (selective thinning) on hydrological processes in temperate mixed forests remain poorly understood. This study comprehensively evaluated the impacts of light-felling intensity levels on three hydrological layers (canopy, litter, and soil) in mid-rotation Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests managed under the “planting conifer and preserving broadleaved trees” (PCPBT) system on Changbai Mountain, China. (2) Methods: Hydrological processes—including canopy interception, throughfall, stemflow, litter interception, soil water absorption, runoff, and evapotranspiration—were measured across five light-felling intensity levels (control, low, medium, heavy, and clear-cutting) during the growing season. The stand structure and precipitation characteristics were analyzed to elucidate the driving mechanisms. (3) Results: (1) Low and heavy light-felling significantly increased the canopy interception by 18.9%~57.0% (p < 0.05), while medium-intensity light-felling reduced it by 20.6%. The throughfall was significantly decreased 10.7% at low intensity but increased 5.3% at medium intensity. The stemflow rates declined by 15.8%~42.7% across all treatments. (2) The litter interception was reduced by 22.1% under heavy-intensity light-felling (p < 0.05). (3) The soil runoff rates decreased by 56.3%, 16.1%, and 6.5% under the low, heavy, and clear-cutting intensity levels, respectively, although increased by 27.1% under medium-intensity activity (p < 0.05). (4) The monthly hydrological dynamics shifted from bimodal (control) to unimodal patterns under most treatments. (5) The canopy processes were primarily driven by precipitation, while litter interception was influenced by throughfall and tree diversity. The soil processes correlated strongly with throughfall. (4) Conclusions: Low and heavy light-felling led to enhanced canopy interception and reduced soil runoff and mitigated flood risks, whereas medium-intensity light-felling supports water supply during droughts by increasing the throughfall and runoff. These findings provide critical insights for balancing carbon sequestration and hydrological regulation in forest management.

A new Weibull-Gamma distribution: theory, estimation and applications

In the fields of reliability engineering, survival analysis, and lifetime data modeling, accurately representing the failure times and life durations of systems, components, and organisms is a central concern. Traditional lifetime distributions—such as the exponential, Weibull, and gamma distributions—have been widely used due to their mathematical tractability and interpretability. However, these classical models often struggle to capture the complexity of real-world data, particularly when hazard rate behaviors vary, including increasing, decreasing, bathtub-shaped, or unimodal patterns. Although the Weibull distribution is popular for its flexibility, it may not sufficiently model datasets where the hazard function deviates from its typical monotonic form. Similarly, while the gamma distribution is effective in many stochastic and queuing contexts, it lacks the versatility to represent certain tail behaviors and multimodal characteristics observed in practice. To address these limitations, statisticians have developed hybrid and compound distributions that merge features from multiple distributions, enhancing both flexibility and applicability. One such development is the Weibull-Gamma distribution, derived by mixing the Weibull and Gamma distributions. The first four moments about the origin, as well as the mean, were calculated for this new distribution. Derived expressions also include the coefficient of variation, skewness, kurtosis, and index of dispersion. In addition, the moment-generating function, characteristic function, and Laplace transform were established. Key reliability functions—such as the survival function, hazard rate function, and mean residual life—were also derived. Parameter estimation was carried out using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method. The goodness-of-fit of the proposed distribution was evaluated against several existing related models using criteria such as the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICC), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). These comparisons were based on real-world datasets. The results demonstrated that the Weibull-Gamma distribution outperformed the competing models, making it a promising alternative for modeling real-life lifetime data.

Research on the Species Diversity and Distribution Patterns of Wild Ribes in Northeast Asia

Ribes is the only genus in the Grossulariaceae family and holds considerable economic importance. Northeast Asia represents one of the major global centers of Ribes distribution. This study presents the first comprehensive investigation focused on this region, examining the diversity, distribution patterns, and environmental determinants of wild Ribes species through field surveys and a review of the relevant literature. Results indicate the presence of 36 species (including 8 varieties) from 7 subgenera of wild Ribes across Northeast Asia, predominantly belonging to the subgenera Berisia, Ribes, and Grossularia. The species are unevenly distributed throughout the region: (1) The Russian Far East exhibits the highest species richness, with 21 species from 5 subgenera, followed by Northeast China (16 species, 6 subgenera), Japan (12 species, 7 subgenera), Mongolia (10 species, 3 subgenera), South Korea (9 species, 5 subgenera), and North Korea (8 species, 5 subgenera). These findings suggest that the Russian Far East currently serves as the core distribution center for Ribes in Northeast Asia. (2) The species diversity of wild Ribes exhibits a unimodal latitudinal pattern, peaking between 47° N and 52° N. (3) A similar unimodal trend is evident along altitudinal gradients, with most species occurring between 500 m and 1500 m. (4) Species richness is primarily influenced by temperature stability and extreme low temperatures, followed by precipitation seasonality and elevation, while annual precipitation shows a relatively minor effect. This study offers crucial baseline data for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Ribes in Northeast Asia.

Tree diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in Durango, Mexico

Understanding the factors that shape biodiversity is crucial for predicting species responses to environmental change and for effective conservation planning. Broad-scale diversity patterns have been widely studied, yet the mechanisms determining biodiversity remain debated. In this study, we investigate the effect of environmental factors on plant diversity patterns along a subtropical elevational gradient in Durango, Mexico. Using a database of 820 permanent forest inventory plots distributed along a gradient ranging from 1300 m to 3000 m in elevation, we assessed how tree taxonomic diversity (TD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) change with elevation and identified their key environmental drivers. We quantified TD and PD using Hill-Chao numbers and tested soil, topographic, and climate variables as drivers of diversity using generalized linear models. Our results revealed a unimodal pattern for both TD and PD, with peak diversity at mid-elevations (2290 m). Climate variables—mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, precipitation seasonality, and relative humidity—emerged as the most important drivers of diversity. The unimodal patterns observed for TD and PD in relation to annual precipitation and temperature align with the predictions of the Water-Energy Dynamics model, highlighting the importance of water-energy dynamics in shaping diversity patterns. The strong positive correlation between TD and PD across all levels of diversity suggests that evolutionary processes and shared environmental tolerances likely contribute to shaping both facets of diversity. These findings have important implications for conservation and forest management, particularly for identifying diversity hotspots along the elevational gradient and understanding the role of environmental filtering in shaping community assembly and phylogenetic diversity. Future research should expand on these findings by incorporating higher-resolution environmental data and explicitly accounting for forest management practices to further refine our understanding of diversity patterns.

Low cross-taxon congruence and weak stand-age effects on biodiversity in Swedish oak forests

Assessing cross-taxon congruence is vital for effective forest conservation, because different taxonomic groups may respond inconsistently to key habitat variables such as stand age. We examined six taxonomic groups—insects, arachnids, springtails, epiphytic lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants—across 25 Swedish oak stands ranging from 19 to 165 years old to determine whether species richness correlated among groups (cross-taxon congruence) and how it related to stand age. In total, we identified 22,276 unique taxa (with on average 4,128 per stand) using COI metabarcoding for arthropods and field surveys for lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants. Associations of species richness in each taxonomic group with richness in the others were weak, indicating low cross-taxon congruence. Only lichens showed a significant, positive relationship of species richness with stand age, while springtails exhibited a unimodal pattern, and the other four groups were unaffected by stand age. Although species composition in four groups changed with stand age, the explanatory power was generally low. Overall, the heterogeneous responses of different groups indicated by our findings caution against the use of single taxonomic groups or environmental variables as indicators and keys to successful protection of biodiversity. Instead, forest management strategies should adopt multi-taxon assessments and recognize the value of both younger and older stands to safeguard biodiversity in oak-dominated landscapes.

Metagenomic insights into microbial diversity and carbon cycling related genes along the elevational gradient in an arid mountain ecosystem

Metagenomic insights into microbial diversity and carbon cycling related genes along the elevational gradient in an arid mountain ecosystem

Stochastic nonlinear system modelling and parametric oscillation response characteristics of gas turbines.

Stochastic nonlinear system modelling and parametric oscillation response characteristics of gas turbines.

Land Use Interacts With Climate to Influence Microbial Diversity-To-Biomass Ratios Across Europe via Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen.

Ecosystem functioning is potentially dependent on the relationships between soil microbial diversity and biomass. Yet, it remains unclear how land use and climate influence these relationships. Here, we (i) analysed relationships and ratios between richness and biomass of bacteria and fungi in ~500 soils across Europe, including three land-use types (woodlands, grasslands and croplands) and climates (cold, temperate and arid) and (ii) identified the driving factors of changes in richness:biomass (R:B) ratios. Richness and biomass of soil bacteria and fungi followed a unimodal pattern, with a peak in mid-levels of biomass. This pattern was more evident in bacteria and more clearly exerted by land use than by climate. Bacterial R:B ratios decreased with land use in the following order: croplands > woodlands > grasslands. Fungal R:B ratios decreased as follows: grasslands > croplands > woodlands. Climate was found to interact with land use. In this way, arid climate tended to increase bacterial R:B ratios in the different land uses; however, the agricultural practices associated with croplands seem to buffer this effect. In fungi, the interactive effect of land use and climate was less straightforward than for bacteria. According to our models, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) in bacteria and SOC in fungi were identified as the primary predictors of R:B ratios. Therefore, factors related to climate and land-use change with impact on SOC and N contents are potential disruptors of soil microbial R:B ratios. This study clarifies the diversity:biomass relationships across different land uses and climates.

Contrasting spatio-temporal variation of fine root dynamics in nearby evergreen korean pine and deciduous oak forests

Abstract Background and aims Although fine roots play a key role in belowground carbon and nutrient cycling, our understanding of species-specific differences in their phenology, morphology, and turnover remains limited – especially across contrasting tree functional types such as evergreen conifers and deciduous broadleaved species. Improved insight into fine root dynamics is essential for understanding how different forest types shape ecosystem functioning, including potential contributions to soil carbon inputs. Methods The dynamics of fine roots (< 2 mm in diameter) were investigated in adjacent evergreen pine (TCK: Taehwa coniferous forest of Korea) and deciduous oak (TBK: Taehwa broadleaf forest of Korea) forests. Minirhizotron images were taken over two years to analyze root production, mortality, turnover, and longevity. Sequential coring was used to assess root biomass and morphological characteristics, along with soil chemical properties across depths (0-30 cm). Results Although TCK roots had larger diameters compared to TBK, TCK unexpectedly exhibited higher turnover rates. Additionally, TCK exhibited a bimodal phenological pattern while TBK exhibited a unimodal pattern. TBK had higher specific root length and faster turnover, as well as more carbon at 0-10 cm soil depths. In contrast, TCK had more uniform root and soil carbon distributions across depths. Conclusion Our findings reveal clear species-specific differences in fine root phenology, morphology, and turnover between adjacent evergreen and deciduous forests. These differences likely reflect distinct belowground strategies for resource acquisition and may influence the timing and magnitude of root-derived carbon inputs to soil. Understanding such variation is critical for improving forest ecosystem models and guiding adaptive management.

Optimized Water Management Strategies: Evaluating Limited-Irrigation Effects on Spring Wheat Productivity and Grain Nutritional Composition in Arid Agroecosystems

The Hetao Plain Irrigation District of Inner Mongolia faces critical agricultural sustainability challenges due to its arid climate, exacerbated by tightening Yellow River water allocations and pervasive water inefficiencies in the current wheat cultivation practices. This study addresses water scarcity by evaluating the impact of regulated deficit irrigation strategies on spring wheat production, with the dual objectives of enhancing water conservation and optimizing yield–quality synergies. Through a two-year field experiment (2020~2021), four irrigation regimes were implemented: rain-fed control (W0), single irrigation at the tillering–jointing stage (W1), dual irrigation at the tillering–jointing and heading–flowering stages (W2), and triple irrigation incorporating the grain-filling stage (W3). A comprehensive analysis revealed that an incremental irrigation frequency progressively enhanced plant morphological traits (height, upper three-leaf area), population dynamics (leaf area index, dry matter accumulation), and physiological performance (flag leaf SPAD, net photosynthetic rate), all peaking under the W2 and W3 treatments. While yield components and total water consumption exhibited linear increases with irrigation inputs, grain yield demonstrated a parabolic response, reaching maxima under W2 (29.3% increase over W0) and W3 (29.1%), whereas water use efficiency (WUE) displayed a distinct inverse trend, with W2 achieving the optimal balance (4.6% reduction vs. W0). The grain quality parameters exhibited divergent responses: the starch content increased proportionally with irrigation, while protein-associated indices (wet gluten, sedimentation value) and dough rheological properties (stability time, extensibility) peaked under W2. Notably, protein content and its subcomponents followed a unimodal pattern, with the W0, W1, and W2 treatments surpassing W3 by 3.4, 11.6, and 11.3%, respectively. Strong correlations emerged between protein composition and processing quality, while regression modeling identified an optimal water consumption threshold (3250~3500 m3 ha−1) that concurrently maximized grain yield, protein output, and WUE. The W2 regime achieved the synchronization of water conservation, yield preservation, and quality enhancement through strategic irrigation timing during critical growth phases. These findings establish a scientifically validated framework for sustainable, intensive wheat production in arid irrigation districts, resolving the tripartite challenge of water scarcity mitigation, food security assurance, and processing quality optimization through precision water management.

Aboveground Forest Biomass Generally Increases with Elevation Gradients in China’s Qinling–Daba Mountains

The complexity of forest ecosystems leads to differences in the distribution patterns of different vegetation types along elevation gradients. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of AGB variations along elevation gradients for different forest types and tree species components in the Qinling–Daba Mountains. Based on 329 field vegetation survey plots, including four sampling transects and four representative mountains, individual tree AGB was calculated using allometric biomass equations. Further, generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to investigate the relationships between AGB and elevation for four forest types (broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, mixed coniferousbroadleaf forests, and shrublands) and three AGB components (total AGB (tAGB), broadleaf species AGB (bAGB), and coniferous species AGB (cAGB)) across eight vegetation survey regions. The results showed that the AGB of different forest types is significantly related to elevation (p < 0.05), with broadleaf forest AGB showing a unimodal pattern with elevation, coniferous forest and mixed forest AGB increasing with elevation, and shrubland AGB exhibiting a noticeable rise at higher elevations. The AGB components across different vegetation survey regions also showed significant relationships with elevation (p < 0.05), with broadleaf species AGB displaying a monotonically increasing trend in regions with a small elevation range and exhibiting a unimodal or bimodal distribution in regions with a large elevation range, while coniferous species AGB generally increased with elevation. Although elevation significantly influenced forest AGB, the variation in R2 values indicated that elevation is not the sole determinant of AGB variation. This study improves the understanding of spatial patterns of forest biomass along elevation gradients.

Spatiotemporal Patterns and Regional Transport Contributions of Air Pollutants in Wuxi City

In recent years, with the rapid socioeconomic development of Wuxi City, the frequent occurrence of severe air pollution events has attracted widespread attention from both the local government and the public. Based on the real-time monitoring data of criteria pollutants and GDAS (Global Data Assimilation System) reanalysis data, the spatiotemporal variation patterns, meteorological influences, and potential sources of major air pollutants in Wuxi across different seasons during 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2023 (post-COVID-19 restrictions) are investigated using the Pearson correlation coefficient, potential source contribution function (PSCF), and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) models. The results demonstrate that the annual mean PM2.5 concentration in Wuxi decreased significantly from 39.6 μg/m3 in 2019 to 29.3 μg/m3 in 2023, whereas the annual mean 8h O3 concentration remained persistently elevated, with comparable levels of 104.6 μg/m3 and 105.0 μg/m3 in 2019 and 2023, respectively. The O3 and particulate matter (PM) remain the most prominent air pollutants in Wuxi’s ambient air quality. The hourly mass concentrations of criteria pollutants, except O3, exhibited characteristic bimodal distributions, with peak concentrations occurring post-rush hour during morning and evening commute periods. In contrast, O3 displayed a distinct unimodal diurnal pattern, peaking between 15:00 and 16:00 local time. The spatial distribution patterns revealed significantly elevated concentrations of all monitored species, excluding O3, in the central urban zone, compared to the northern Taihu Lake region. The statistical analysis revealed significant correlations among PM concentrations and other air pollutants. Additionally, meteorological parameters exerted substantial influences on pollutant concentrations. The PSCF and CWT analyses revealed distinct seasonal variations in the potential source regions of atmospheric pollutants in Wuxi. In spring, the Suzhou–Wuxi–Changzhou metropolitan cluster and northern Zhejiang Province were identified as significant contributors to PM2.5 and O3 pollution in Wuxi. The potential source regions of O3 are predominantly distributed across the Taihu Lake-rim cities during summer, while the eastern urban agglomeration adjacent to Wuxi serves as major potential source areas for O3 in autumn. In winter, the prevailing northerly winds facilitate southward PM2.5 transport from central-northern Jiangsu, characterized by high emissions (e.g., industrial activities), identifying this region as a key potential source contribution area for Wuxi’s aerosol pollution. The current air pollution status in Wuxi City underscores the imperative for implementing more stringent and efficacious intervention strategies to ameliorate air quality.

Cascading environmental, phenological, and physiological influences on spatial variability of annual gross primary productivity in the Northern Hemisphere.

Cascading environmental, phenological, and physiological influences on spatial variability of annual gross primary productivity in the Northern Hemisphere.

Testing a Hump-Shaped Pattern with Increasing Elevation for Ant Species Richness in Daliang Mountain, Sichuan, China

Ants have long been regarded as ubiquitous insects that are indicators of environmental change and ecosystems. Understanding the patterns of ant species richness along elevational gradients is crucial for elucidating their ecological functions within ecosystems. However, there is currently no comprehensive consensus on the pattern. In this study, we explored the pattern of ant species richness along an elevational gradient in the Mt. Daliang region (Sichuan, China), a biodiversity conservation hotspot in China. The ant species richness was investigated using 115 plots 50 × 50 m in size, distributed across 12 elevation bands of 250 m interval between 750 to 3500 m a.s.l. We identified 157 ant species from 51 genera and seven subfamilies. Myrmicinae was the most diverse subfamily, consisting of 20 genera and 84 species, followed by Formicinae, Dolichoderinae, Ponerinae, Dorylinae, Amblyoponinae, and Proceratiinae. We found a unimodal distribution pattern of ant species richness along the elevational gradient, with the highest ant species richness occurring at mid-elevations. This hump-shaped pattern of ant species richness was presented alongside the temperature variation. Furthermore, our results indicated that ground-foraging ant species were the most abundant in this region and that ants prefer to nest in the soil. Our findings highlight the importance of elevation in influencing ant species richness in Daliang Mountain, Sichuan, China, and provide novel insights into the potential drivers of elevational gradients in ant species communities.

Biofouling Community Dynamics on Nylon and Polyethylene Aquaculture Nets in the North Yellow Sea: Colonization Patterns and Mytilus edulis Mechanical Properties

A hanging net test was conducted from May to November 2022 on Takifugu rubripes culture nets at Wang Jia Island in the North Yellow Sea, China. The study identified 21 species of fouling organisms, with Mytilus edulis emerging as the dominant fouling organism colonizing aquaculture net cages. Coverage rates varied temporally, with water depth, and by net material, exhibiting a unimodal pattern that peaked between June and October (38.46–98.45%). At different depths, the coverage rates were highest at −0.5 m (75.14% to 98.65%). Additionally, nets made of nylon (29.41% to 98.65%) had an average coverage rate 8.2% higher than those made of PE mesh (26.34% to 90.45%). To assess the growth and mechanical properties of M. edulis, we analyzed its morphological relationships. A strong positive linear correlation was observed between shell length, width, and thickness, while body weight followed a power function relationship with shell dimensions. Growth curve analysis indicated that M. edulis reached maturity in late August. Compression tests revealed a defined yield point, with crack propagation varying by force direction. The maximum compressive force occurred in the thickness direction (195.95 N), with resistance increasing progressively from length to width to thickness. These findings elucidate biofouling dynamics on aquaculture nets and support the development of improved antifouling technologies.

Activity pattern of the Lorenz’s tree iguana <i>Liolaemus lorenzmuelleri</i> in Coquimbo, Chile

Liolaemus lorenzmuelleri is a lizard endemic to Chile. Some authors indicated that its activity pattern was unimodal; however, no evidence was found to support this statement. The objective of this study was to verify the unimodal activity pattern of L. lorenzmuelleri, based on quantitative data. Thirty-five videos recorded between August and December 2022 of an individual of the species were examined. The times and dates of recording were analyzed with the Kernel density function. It was concluded that the species exhibited a unimodal activity pattern for the study period.

An integrated analysis of species richness and response traits highlights the functional vulnerability of liverworts along the entire elevational gradient in Colombia

Abstract Investigating diversity patterns along elevational clines brings important insights about the responses of biodiversity to environmental changes, with implications for conservation actions. We analysed the species richness and functional patterns of liverworts along the entire elevational gradient (0–5000 m) in Colombia. Published data on elevation ranges and reproductive and morphological traits related to ecological strategies of 705 species of liverworts were compiled. The elevational gradient was divided into 100-m vertical bands. General linear and additive models were used to investigate trends in liverwort richness. The richness of functional entities and functional diversity (Functional Redundancy, Functional Over-redundancy and Functional Vulnerability) were evaluated along the elevational gradient. A unimodal hump-shaped pattern was observed for species richness and functional diversity, with the highest values recorded at intermediate elevations (2000–3000 m). The most representative reproductive and morphological traits explaining the functional differentiation were the presence of monoicous and dioicous reproductive system, lobules, and gametophyte types. We found a high functional vulnerability in high Andean areas (>4000 m), where functional entities were dominated by a single species and the most relevant traits were life forms tolerant to high humidity and dark pigmentation. The ability of liverworts to respond to specific environmental filters underscores the importance of conserving these plants and their ecosystems along the elevational gradient. Conservation actions in this sense are essential to safeguard biodiversity and preserve essential functions in these vulnerable high-mountain environments.