A research team from Huazhong Agricultural University has recently made progress in mountain biodiversity and ecosystem services. The findings were published under the title "Temperature thresholds induce abrupt shifts in biodiversity and ecosystem services in montane ecosystems worldwide" in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

By systematically analyzing 4,462 observations from 290 elevation gradients worldwide, the study explores the response patterns of biodiversity, including animal and plant diversity, and ecosystem services, including plant productivity, soil carbon, and soil fertility, to local temperature changes along elevation gradients.

The geographical distribution of sampling points along global elevation gradients in this study. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

The research results indicate that in about one-third of the elevation gradients investigated, biodiversity and ecosystem services exhibit abrupt responses to local temperature changes. Areas with an approximate annual average temperature of 10 C experience drastic changes in mountain biodiversity and ecosystem services from even slight temperature increases.

Further research reveals that animal and plant diversity, as well as plant productivity, generally exhibit a positive abrupt response pattern to local temperature increases, while soil carbon and soil fertility commonly show a negative abrupt response pattern.

Based on the most comprehensive empirical evidence to date, this study reveals a universal abrupt response pattern by global mountain biodiversity and ecosystem services to local temperature changes, highlighting the high sensitivity of mountain ecosystems to climate change. The research results underscore the urgency of incorporating local climate change into strategies for protecting mountain ecosystems.