Altitudinal pattern of species richness and test of the Rapoport's rules in the Drung river area, southwest China

Altitudinal patterns of species richness have become a focus of ecological research. Based on regional flora and Digital Elevation Model in Drung river area, the authors explored the altitudinal patterns of species richness in the Drung river area, Southwest China. Species richness and species density deceased with an increase of elevation. A negative relationship was observed between distribution range size of species and elevation, while a reverse pattern was found between the range size and species density, and the result is consistent with the Rapoport's rules. Species density increased with the increase of mean annual temperature, while the distribution range size of species decreased, indicating that energy is the major factor controlling the altitudinal patterns of species density.EI04515-5204