The Effect of Climate Change on Plant Communities in the Rocky Mountains: How floral traits differ along an elevational gradient and in reciprocally transplanted communities

Abstract

Alpine zones are characterized by climatic conditions that can vary over short vertical distances. Therefore, elevational gradients have been used to study how changes in climate can influence plant form, function, and diversity. In my study, I examined floral traits in native communities along an elevational gradient as well as in a novel experimental set of transplant communities to understand how shifts in temperature and elevation influence floral traits. I measured flower diameter, flower radius, flower length, height of the highest flower and number of flowers (count) at a variety of sites in Washington Gulch. At three different experimental transplant sites, I sampled each transplanted and control plot. I also sampled at long-term research sites of Dr. Brian Enquist and Department of Energy (DOE) sites in the vicinity of Crested Butte, Colorado. I predicted that flower diameter, flower radius, flower length and height of the highest flower will increase at higher elevations because alpine plants typically have larger floral structures to compensate for the paucity of pollinators in the alpine and because water availability is better in alpine environments as opposed to lowland habitats. Conversely, I expect the number of flowers to decrease as elevation increases because there are fewer pollinators and harsher environmental conditions like heightened wind velocities which stunt growth. Helianthella quinquenervis​ and ​Potentilla pulcherrima d​ id not show any discernible trends for diameter, height or length along the gradient but both had compelling findings embedded in the data for certain sites. Significant differences were found between sites for each trait but further analysis is required to contextualize these variations. This project is unique in that we measured native plant communities that were transported to higher and lower elevation sites and also quantitatively compared different flower morphologies and attributes in these varied settings.

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