Global functional variation in alpine vegetation

Questions What are the functional trade-offs of vascular plant species in global alpine ecosystems? How is variation related to vegetation zones, climatic groups and biogeographic realms? relative contribution macroclimate evolutionary history shaping communities? Location Global. Methods We compiled a data set with 5,532 geo-referenced plots, 1,933 six traits. used principal component analysis quantify among trait probability density assess dissimilarity different realms. multiple regression on distance matrices model community against environmental phylogenetic dissimilarity, controlling for geographic distance. Results The first two PCA axes explained 66% species’ were leaf stem economic spectra, respectively. Trait was largely independent zone but differed across same pattern emerged both pool levels. effects dissimilarities had similar magnitude, while effect negligible. Conclusions Plant areas reflect function, predominant role resource use strategies. Current exerts limited vegetation, mostly acting at level combination history. Global functionally unrelated zones which it embedded, exhibiting strong convergence regions.