Ordination analysis (DCA) of subplots.

(a) The main figure panel shows ordination positions of each subplot with different symbols for each site. Separation of subplots is high, indicated by axis length, and both axes together have an explained variance of 58.2%. Arrows indicate the score load of subplot characteristics (tree/shrub/herb/rocks: cover of trees, shrubs, herbs, and rocks; SR: species richness; soil: bare soil; alt: elevation). The boxplots above the main panel show the distribution of subplots along first axis, again separated for sites. The smaller panels on the right side highlight (b) the assignment of subplots to vegetation belts (centre of distribution indicated by ellipses), (c) elevation (symbol size according to elevation), and (d) species richness (symbol size according to species richness).