Sedimentary ancient DNA reveals a threat of warming-induced alpine habitat loss to Tibetan Plateau plant diversity

Sisi Liu, Stefan Kruse, Dirk Scherler, Richard H. Ree, Heike H. Zimmermann, Kathleen R. Stoof-Leichsenring, Laura S. Epp, Steffen Mischke and Ulrike Herzschuh ()
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Sisi Liu: Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems
Stefan Kruse: Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems
Dirk Scherler: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Richard H. Ree: Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Department of Science and Education, Field Museum
Heike H. Zimmermann: Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems
Kathleen R. Stoof-Leichsenring: Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems
Laura S. Epp: Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems
Steffen Mischke: University of Iceland
Ulrike Herzschuh: Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Studies along elevational gradients worldwide usually find the highest plant taxa richness in mid-elevation forest belts. Hence, an increase in upper elevation diversity is expected in the course of warming-related treeline rise. Here, we use a time-series approach to infer past taxa richness from sedimentary ancient DNA from the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau over the last ~18,000 years. We find the highest total plant taxa richness during the cool phase after glacier retreat when the area contained extensive and diverse alpine habitats (14–10 ka); followed by a decline when forests expanded during the warm early- to mid-Holocene (10–3.6 ka). Livestock grazing since 3.6 ka promoted plant taxa richness only weakly. Based on these inferred dependencies, our simulation yields a substantive decrease in plant taxa richness in response to warming-related alpine habitat loss over the next centuries. Accordingly, efforts of Tibetan biodiversity conservation should include conclusions from palaeoecological evidence.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22986-4

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