Environmental determinants of vascular plant species richness in the Austrian Alps

摘要: Aim To test predictions of different large-scale biodiversity hypotheses by analysing species richness patterns vascular plants in the Austrian Alps. Location The part Alps (c. 53,500 km 2 ). Methods Within floristic inventory Central Europe were systematically mapped for plants. Data collection was based on a rectangular grid 5 · 3 arc minutes (34‐35 Emerging correlated with several environmental factors using generalized linear models. Primary variables like temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration used to climate-related richness. Additionally, spatial temporal variations climatic conditions considered. Bedrock geology, particularly amount calcareous substrates, proximity rivers lakes secondary topographic, edaphic land-use heterogeneity as additional predictors. Model results evaluated correlating modelled observed numbers. Results Our final multiple regression model explains c. 50% variance patterns. evaluation correlation coefficient 0.64 between numbers an independent data set. Climatic temperature potential (PET) proved be far most important In general, indicating favourableness maxima PET performed better than those stress, respective minima. mineralogy, especially substrate, had some explanatory power but less influential suggested comparable studies. does not have any effect regionally. Among descriptors heterogeneity, are more closely topographic heterogeneity. Main conclusions support energy-driven processes primary determinants plant temperate mountains. Stressful obviously decrease numbers, presence favourable habitats has higher predictive context modelling. importance driving global diversity is necessarily reflected Annualrange oftemperature, anindicator shortterm stability, minor determination regional our study suggests rather low value However, it may gain at local scales.