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Environmental constraints and species adaptive strategies drive plant longevity in Himalayan high-mountain plants
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  • Thinles Chondol,
  • Adam Klimeš,
  • Jan Altman,
  • Katerina Capkova,
  • Miroslav Dvorsky,
  • Inga Hiiesalu,
  • Veronika Jandova,
  • Martin Kopecký,
  • Martin Macek,
  • Klara Rehakova,
  • Pierre Liancourt,
  • Jiri Dolezal
Thinles Chondol
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:thinleschondol@gmail.com

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Adam Klimeš
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Jan Altman
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Katerina Capkova
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Miroslav Dvorsky
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Inga Hiiesalu
University of Tartu Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
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Veronika Jandova
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Martin Kopecký
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Martin Macek
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Klara Rehakova
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Pierre Liancourt
Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History
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Jiri Dolezal
Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Plant lifespan has important evolutionary, physiological, and ecological implications related to population persistence, community stability, and resilience to ongoing environmental change impacts. Although biologists have long puzzled over the extraordinary variation in plant lifespan and its causes, our understanding of interspecific variability in plant lifespan and the key internal and external factors influencing longevity remains limited. Here, we demonstrate the concurrent impacts of environmental, morphological, physiological, and anatomical constraints on interspecific variation in longevity among >300 vascular dicot plant species naturally occurring at an elevation gradient (2800-6150 m) in the western Himalayas. First, we show that plant longevity is largely related to species’ habitat preferences. Ecologically stressful habitats such as alpine and subnival host long-lived species, while productive ruderal and wetland habitats contain a higher proportion of short-lived species. Second, longevity is influenced by growth form. Small-statured cushion plants with compact canopies and deep roots, most found on cold and infertile alpine and subnival soils, had a higher chance of achieving longevity. Third, plant traits reflecting plant adaptations to stress and disturbance modulate interspecific differences in plant longevity. Importantly, we show that longevity and growth are negatively correlated. Slow-growing plants are those that have a higher chance of reaching a maximum age. Finally, changes in plant carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content in root and leaf tissue were significantly associated with variations in longevity. We discuss the link between the longevity and productivity and stability of studied Himalayan ecosystems and the intrinsic growth dynamics and physiological constraints under increasing environmental pressure.
26 Feb 2023Submitted to Oikos
27 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
27 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
27 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
15 May 20231st Revision Received
16 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
16 May 2023Assigned to Editor
16 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 May 2023Editorial Decision: Accept