Contrasting patterns of alpine biodiversity across mountains and taxa worldwide
Контрастные модели альпийского биоразнообразия по горам и таксонам по всему миру
2026-07-03
SCID: 54.1/kw767cc2
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Neotropical alpine hotspotsalpine biodiversityelevational rangesmountain biodiversity hotspotsvascular plants
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Abstract (AI)
The alpine biome, located at higher elevations of mountains worldwide, supports unique biodiversity and provides important ecosystem contributions to people. Despite the growing recognition of mountain biodiversity in international policy frameworks, substantial gaps remain in our understanding of how alpine biodiversity varies across mountain systems, undermining estimates of its conservation value and consequently effective conservation strategies. Here, we curate a dataset on alpine biodiversity, incorporating expert-validated data on species' elevational ranges for vascular plants, mammals, birds, and reptiles across 32 mountain ranges worldwide. We show that alpine biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in Neotropical regions, while most temperate regions represent coldspots with lower species richness. These patterns persist whether considering species with broad elevational ranges or only those strictly confined to the alpine zone. Unlike the classical latitudinal gradient of biodiversity, alpine richness patterns show no consistent relationship with latitude, highlighting the importance of regional history, landscape structure, and biogeographical processes.
Key Findings
1
Alpine biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in Neotropical regions while most temperate regions are coldspots with lower species richness.
2
Alpine richness patterns show no consistent relationship with latitude, unlike the classical latitudinal biodiversity gradient.
3
Curated expert-validated dataset of species elevational ranges for vascular plants, mammals, birds, and reptiles across 32 mountain ranges worldwide.
4
Hotspot–coldspot pattern holds whether including species with broad elevational ranges or only species strictly confined to the alpine zone.
5
Regional history, landscape structure, and biogeographical processes are important drivers explaining alpine biodiversity variation across mountains and taxa.
Research Object
Alpine biodiversity across 32 mountain ranges worldwide for vascular plants, mammals, birds, and reptiles
Research Subject
Spatial patterns and variation of species richness and alpine endemism across mountain systems and taxa, including hotspot/coldspot distribution and relationships with latitude, elevational range breadth, regional history, landscape structure, and biogeographical processes
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2026-07-03
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