Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TropAlp (Abiotic factors of diversification in tropical alpine ecosystems.)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-04-01 do 2024-03-31
TropAlp aimed to study the dynamic interplay of geographical isolation and environmental adaptation in driving the evolution of diversity. Therefore, the species-rich tropical environments were used as a model system: TropAlp investigated these ecosystems at different spatial and temporal scales using comparative phylogenomics and ecosystem modelling. TropAlp focused on two of these ecosystems, the isolated high altitude areas of eastern Africa and the more continuous high altitude areas of the northern Andes. The two regions have similar climates today and are independent biogeographic units, as they are cold regions within the warm tropics. This permitted to investigate if differences such as habitat size, habitat connectivity and past climates led to different diversification and species richness patterns. Answering this questions is important for society as it helps understanding how these factors influence biodiversity.
The objectives of the action were the following:
• 1) Gain an insight into the evolution of tropical alpine plant lineages, and investigate if the species form monophyletic independent groups.
• 2) Understand how geographic and/or environmental isolation are drivers of diversification.
• 3) Explore the differences between the two study systems.
The objectives of the action were the following:
• 1) Gain an insight into the evolution of tropical alpine plant lineages, and investigate if the species form monophyletic independent groups.
• 2) Understand how geographic and/or environmental isolation are drivers of diversification.
• 3) Explore the differences between the two study systems.
The ER used phylogenomics to investigate the evolutionary relationships of six plant lineages. The species in the tropical alpine regions of Africa are in most cases monophyletic and the species are often clearly endemic to a single mountain. In contrast, the Andean species show a more complex figure. Species are sometimes not monophyletic and numerous instances of (historical) gene flow were discovered.
Using a newly developed habitat modelling approach, the ER was able to show, that the climatic conditions are similar between the two studied regions. Nevertheless, during the Last Glacial Maximum, the degree of habitat stability varied, with extensive area loss in eastern Africa compared to the northern Andes. Further, in the Andes, usually only the humid areas within tropical alpine regions are considered, the so-called Paramo. The modelling showed that in order to compare regions with similar climates, a region further south, the so-called Puna, which is more arid in comparison to the Paramo should be included into comparisons of tropical alpine ecosystems.
By studying the niche and range characteristics of species within the ecosystem, well known species richness hypothesis were tested: e.g. if species have small niche sizes, it is hypothesized that more species per area can exist. A pattern which could not be confirmed for the tropical alpine regions, as niche sizes were actually larger for the species in the species-poor African mountains. Instead, niche separation of geographically overlapping species is higher in the Paramo, which likely led, in combination with the different degrees of habitat stability in the past, to the diversity differences we can observe today.
Additionally, niche modelling was performed to investigate range changes in the past as well as the future. One prominent hypothesis is, that alpine species will shift their ranges upwards in warming climates. This is not a general pattern observable for the tropical alpine species, as some of them actually shift downwards. Still work in progress is another aspect, to study the phylogenetic community assembly of the isolated tropical alpine regions in Africa to investigate if species are more closely related than expected and how it related to isolation between the different mountains.
Results were published in one open-access article, with three more to be published. The action was further disseminated by several talks given at different institutions and conferences.
Using a newly developed habitat modelling approach, the ER was able to show, that the climatic conditions are similar between the two studied regions. Nevertheless, during the Last Glacial Maximum, the degree of habitat stability varied, with extensive area loss in eastern Africa compared to the northern Andes. Further, in the Andes, usually only the humid areas within tropical alpine regions are considered, the so-called Paramo. The modelling showed that in order to compare regions with similar climates, a region further south, the so-called Puna, which is more arid in comparison to the Paramo should be included into comparisons of tropical alpine ecosystems.
By studying the niche and range characteristics of species within the ecosystem, well known species richness hypothesis were tested: e.g. if species have small niche sizes, it is hypothesized that more species per area can exist. A pattern which could not be confirmed for the tropical alpine regions, as niche sizes were actually larger for the species in the species-poor African mountains. Instead, niche separation of geographically overlapping species is higher in the Paramo, which likely led, in combination with the different degrees of habitat stability in the past, to the diversity differences we can observe today.
Additionally, niche modelling was performed to investigate range changes in the past as well as the future. One prominent hypothesis is, that alpine species will shift their ranges upwards in warming climates. This is not a general pattern observable for the tropical alpine species, as some of them actually shift downwards. Still work in progress is another aspect, to study the phylogenetic community assembly of the isolated tropical alpine regions in Africa to investigate if species are more closely related than expected and how it related to isolation between the different mountains.
Results were published in one open-access article, with three more to be published. The action was further disseminated by several talks given at different institutions and conferences.
The action has led to a new analysis workflow that permits to delimit the tropical alpine ecosystem based on climate only, instead of using elevation. This has the advantage that it also permits to investigate how the ecosystem extents changed in the past and will in the future. The approach can be utilized for other ecosystems as well. Further, a new phylogenetic comparative approach was developed to study niche and range dynamics and the workflow will be made publicly available.
During the action, the ER did learn new approaches and there was a transfer of knowledge to the hosting institution, as well as to other colleagues in Spain, Germany and Norway.
Gaining a better understanding on biodiversity changes in the tropical alpine ecosystem is relevant to the health of the globe and the people living in these remote areas. Especially by improving the education of the people to understand why these ecosystems need to be protected for their own health and quality of life as well as improving the understanding of the effects of climate change on biodiversity for conservation approaches will improve policies and practices in the future. Providing expert knowledge for the development of a children's book about the Paramo ecosystem will directly transfer knowledge about the ecosystem to the families living in these areas.
Another aspect of consideration is that through the action, the ER improved her informatics skills and having more skilled female researchers in the field of biodiversity informatics will increase the diversity in this part of science.
During the action, the ER did learn new approaches and there was a transfer of knowledge to the hosting institution, as well as to other colleagues in Spain, Germany and Norway.
Gaining a better understanding on biodiversity changes in the tropical alpine ecosystem is relevant to the health of the globe and the people living in these remote areas. Especially by improving the education of the people to understand why these ecosystems need to be protected for their own health and quality of life as well as improving the understanding of the effects of climate change on biodiversity for conservation approaches will improve policies and practices in the future. Providing expert knowledge for the development of a children's book about the Paramo ecosystem will directly transfer knowledge about the ecosystem to the families living in these areas.
Another aspect of consideration is that through the action, the ER improved her informatics skills and having more skilled female researchers in the field of biodiversity informatics will increase the diversity in this part of science.