Climatic and Non-Climatic Drivers of Plant Diversity along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Taihang Mountains of Northern China

Climate is critical for plant altitudinal distribution patterns. Non-climatic factors also have important effects on vegetation in mountain regions. The purpose of this study was to explore the current diversity along gradient Taihang Mountain range northern China and estimate climatic non-climatic elevational pattern. Through a field survey, total 480 sampling plots were established central range. Alpha diversities (the Shannon–Weiner index Simpson index) beta Jaccard Cody measured based survey data. Plant community structure change explored by measuring indices. Canonical correspondence analysis carried out determine influencing distribution. contributions determined partial methods. results showed that complied with “hump-shaped” pattern, which communities medium altitude area higher had species turnover rate, factors, particularly anthropogenic an influence In conclusion, both It strongly recommended reduce human interference protection management.