Tropical mountain forests - distribution and general features [Recurso electrónico]

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Tropical mountain forests vary considerably in continental occurrence and vertical extension. They are most widespread in South America and in (semi-)humid mountain areas. In terms of phytogeography, temperate floristic elements become increasingly important towards mountains of the outer tropics. Species richness is much higher in humid tropical mountains than in dry ones. In terms of biodiversity, tropical mountain forests are one of the world's main hot spots; this high biodiversity is triggered at different scales. At the world scale, the great length of effective evolutionary time, the constant input of "accidentals" and the type of seasonal variability in tropical mountain forests are of importance. At the landscape scale, the input of taxa from various directions along mountain chains, habitat fragmentation and geological history contribute to diversification. At the mountain scale, the great variety of climatic characteristics, orographic heterogeneity and geological and edaphic conditions are important. At the belt scale, disturbance regimes and stress factors, orographic atributes and local altitudinal climate gradients are crucial factors. Finally, at the patch scale alpha-diversity is triggered by micro-habitat differentiation as exemplified by epiphytic niche variety, and micro-relief and succession patterns. Due to the species-rich tree communities, discrete vegetation borders are barely identifiable. deu

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