Plant community persistence strategy is elevation?specific

Aims Persistence plays a key role in both plant population and community dynamics as it allows withstanding temporarily habitat conditions unsuitable for growth reproduction. Plants can exploit three different strategies to persist situ (building soil seed banks, increasing adult longevity and/or clonal reproduction), the dominance of which might vary along environmental gradients. Yet, their relative persistence has never been investigated. Location The Bavarian Alps, Germany. Methods We collected data on persistence, clonality 290 species occurring 18 grasslands located an elevational gradient 1,000 metres examined contribution community. Linear models were used estimate relationship between elevation these strategies. Results found that certain strategy varied depending variability. Specifically, lowlands was mainly achieved by persistent dense banks with extended (larger spread distances higher number offspring). Contrastingly, main alpine communities increased longevity. Conclusions changes each are interrelated suggesting trade-off among them. conclude this important co-existence assembly, be useful understand vegetation under ongoing climate change improve restoration efforts upland ecosystems.