| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section/ASPT Burge, Dylan [1], Salk, Carl [2]. Pervasive plant thermal tolerance shifts on infertile substrates. Our research aimed to test the hypothesis that soil-generalist plant species occur at lower elevations on infertile serpentine soils than on non-serpentine soils. Our research took place in the context of the state of California, U.S.A. Data on native vascular plants from 19 California herbaria were used. Physical locations of specimens were used to determine elevation and soil association. We developed a new simulation modeling approach to test for significant differences in elevational distribution between serpentine and non-serpentine collection locations for a total of 814 native California plant species that are found both on and off this soil type. Our results suggest that serpentine populations are found at lower elevations than non-serpentine populations at both the low and high ends of the species elevation distribution (two tailed t-tests; P < 0.0001). This pattern is maintained along most of the latitudinal gradient in California, and is matched by similar patterns with respect to average annual low temperature. Our results have implications for biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change. Broader Impacts:
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of British Columbia, Botany, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
2 - University of Colorado, Institute of Behavioral Science, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
Keywords:
biodiversity
California
climate
ecology
flora
geology
herbarium
serpentine.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 13
Location: Rosedown/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: 13011
Abstract ID:271
Candidate for Awards:George R. Cooley Award |
