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Recent publication
Recent publication
Alpine Vegetation Under Stress: Drought Impacts on Subtropical Humid High-Mountain Plant Communities in East Asia
Alpine Vegetation Under Stress: Drought Impacts on Subtropical Humid High-Mountain Plant Communities in East Asia
We wanted to see what happens when high-mountain plants face two problems in Taiwan: rising temperatures and lack of water. Therefore, we tested two hypotheses:
"Combined stress hypothesis": Plants might actually grow better in warmer weather if they have enough water; however, if extreme heat hits at the same time as a severe drought, the damage to the ecosystem will be much worse than either problem caused on its own.
Severe droughts will kill off plants that need moisture and cold temperatures, leaving only the "tough" drought-resistant species behind. This results in a loss of variety, where the landscape becomes dominated by a few similar species rather than a diverse mix.
Between 1951 and 2022, extreme droughts in Taiwan’s alpine regions spiked, especially after 2016. Recent data shows that while plants can handle heat or drought individually, the combination of both causes a massive collapse in productivity. This "double stress" has swiped off cold-loving species, leaving behind a few hardy survivors and making the ecosystem less diverse.
Conclusions: Even naturally humid high-mountain environments are now at risk. Our study proves that heat and drought together somehow will destroy the resilience of high-mountain plants. See full articles at https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70097
Responses of alpine summit vegetation under climate change in the transition zone between subtropical and tropical humid environment
Responses of alpine summit vegetation under climate change in the transition zone between subtropical and tropical humid environment
Abstract: Climate change has caused severe impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity globally, especially to vulnerable mountain ecosystems; the summits bear the brunt of such effects. Therefore, six summits in Taiwan were monitored based on a standardized multi-summit approach. We used both statistical downscaling of climate data and vegetation cover data to calculate climate niches to assess the impacts of climate change. Two indicators, thermophilic and moist-philic, were applied to evaluate the overall response of vegetation dynamics. The results revealed that potential evapotranspiration increased significantly and led to a declining tendency in monthly water balance from 2014 to 2019. The general pattern of species richness was a decline. The difference in plant cover among the three surveys showed an inconsistent pattern, although some dominant species expanded, such as the dwarf bamboo Yushania niitakayamensis. The thermophilic indicator showed that species composition had changed so that there were more thermophilic species at the three lowest summits. The moist-philization indicator showed a decline of humid‐preferred species in the latest monitoring period. Although total precipitation did not decrease, our results suggest that the variability in precipitation with increased temperature and potential evapotranspiration altered alpine vegetation composition and could endanger vulnerable species in the future.
Publication list
Publication list
Chu-Chia Kuo, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2026) Alpine vegetation under stress: drought impacts on subtropical humid high-mountain plant communities in East Asia. Journal of Vegetation Science, 37:e70097. DOI:10.1111/jvs.70097 (SCI)
Liang-Yu Pan#, Cheng-Tao Lin# and Gene-Sheng Tung* (2024) Utilizing citizen science for accurate global prediction of the invasive gall-inducing insects, Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead, 1900) and Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), on Eucalyptus L’Hér. (Myrtaceae) trees. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 100(4):361–375. DOI:10.3956/2024-100.4.361 (SCI, #: joint first authors)
Callaghan, Corey T., Thomas Mesaglio, John S. Ascher, Thomas M. Brooks, Analyn A. Cabras, Mark Chandler, William K. Cornwell, Indiana Cristóbal Ríos-Málaver, Even Dankowicz, Naufal Urfi Dhiya’ulhaq, Richard A. Fuller, Carlos Galindo-Leal, Florencia Grattarola, Susan Hewitt,Lila Higgins, Colleen Hitchcock, Keng-Lou James Hung, Tony Iwane, Paula Kahumbu,Roger Kendrick,Samuel R. Kieschnick,Gernot Kunz,Chien C. Lee, Cheng-Tao Lin, Scott Loarie, Milton Norman Medina,Mark A. McGrouther, Lera Miles, Shaunak Modi, Katarzyna Nowak, Rahayu Oktaviani, Brian M. Waswala Olewe, James Pagé, Silviu Petrovan, Cassi saari, Carrie E. Seltzer, Alexey P. Seregin, Jon J. Sullivan, Amila P. Sumanapala, Aristide Takoukam, Jane Widness,Keith Willmott, Wolfgang Wüster, Alison N. Young (2022) The benefits of contributing to the citizen science platform iNaturalist as an identifier. PLOS Biology, 20(11), e3001843. DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001843 (SCI)
Chu-Chia Kuo, Yea-Chen Liu, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2022) Responses of alpine summit vegetation under climate change in the transition zone between subtropical and tropical humid environment. Scientific Reports, 12:13352. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17682-2 (SCI)
Ching-An Chiu, Hsy-Yu Tzeng, Cheng-Tao Lin, Kun-Cheng Chang, and Min-Chun Liao (2022). Spatial distribution and climate warming impact on Abies kawakamii forest on a subtropical island. Plants, 11(10):1346. DOI: 10.3390/plants11101346 (SCI)
Ching-An Chiu, Tetsuya Matsui, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2021) Exploring the potential distribution of relic Trochodendron aralioides: An approach using open-access resources and free software. Forests, 12(12):1749. DOI: 10.3390/f12121749 (SCI)
Chu-Chia Kuo, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2021) Assessment of climate change effects on alpine summit vegetation in the transition of tropical to subtropical humid climate. Plant Ecology, 222(8):933–951. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-021-01152-2 (SCI)
Cheng-Tao Lin, Ching-An Chiu* (2020) A Comparison of predictor selection procedures in species distribution modeling: a case study of Fagus hayatae. CERNE, 26(2):172–182 DOI: 10.1590/01047760202026022657 (SCI)
Pin-Yuan Chen, Cheng-Tao Lin, Rita S. W. Yam & Hsiao-Wei Yuan (2020) Influences of physical vegetation management on Odonata abundance in urbanized ecosystem: a Case study in northern Taiwan. Wetlands, 40:2061–2070. DOI: 10.1007/s13157-020-01314-4 (SCI)
Fu-Hsiung Hsu*, Cheng-Tao Lin, Chun-Fen Kuo (2019) Review of vertebrate research and species checklists in Yushan National Park, Taiwan, from 1982 to 2018. National Park Journal 29(2):1–27 (Traditional Chinese with English Abstract)
Cheng-Tao Lin, Ching-An Chiu* (2019) The Relic Trochodendron aralioides Siebold & Zucc. (Trochodendraceae) in Taiwan: ensemble distribution modeling and climate change impacts. Forests 10(1): 7. DOI: 10.3390/f10010007 (SCI; Open Access)
Cheng-Tao Lin, Kuo-Fang Chung* (2017) Phylogenetic classification of seed plants of Taiwan. Botanical Studies 58:52. DOI: 10.1186/s40529-017-0206-6 (SCI; Open Access)
Wei-Chih Lin, Yu-Pin Lin, Wan-Yu Lien, Yung-Chieh Wang, Cheng-Tao Lin, Chyi-Rong Chiou, Johnathen Anthony, Neville D. Crossman (2014) Expansion of protected areas under climate change: An example of mountainous tree species in Taiwan. Forests 5(11): 2882–2904. DOI: 10.3390/f5112882 (SCI; Open Access)
Cheng-Tao Lin, Tzu-Ying Chen, Chang-Fu Hsieh, Chyi-Rong Chiou (2014) Abiotic factors and Yushania influences on Abiesforest composition in Taiwan. Taiwania 59(3):247–261. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2014.59.247 (SCI; Open Access)
Katsuhiro Nakao, Motoki Higa, Ikutaro Tsuyama, Cheng-Tao Lin, Shih-To Sun, Jian-Rong Lin, Chyi-Rong Chiou, Tzu-Ying Chen, Tetsuya Matsui, Nobuyuki Tanaka (2014) Changes in the potential habitats of 10 dominant evergreen broad-leaved tree species in the Taiwan-Japan archipelago. Plant Ecology 215:639–650. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-014-0329-8 (SCI)
Cindy Q. Tang, Chyi-Rong Chiou, Cheng-Tao Lin, Jian-Rong Lin, Chang-Fu Hsieh, Jian-Wei Tang, Wen-Hua Su, Xiuli Hou (2013) Plant diversity patterns in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests of Yunnan and Taiwan. Ecological Research 28(1):81–92. DOI: 10.1007/s11284-012-1002-0 (SCI)
Cheng-Tao Lin, Ching-Feng Li, David Zelený, Milan Chytrý, Yukito Nakamura, Ming-Yih Chen, Tze-Ying Chen, Yue-Joe Hsia, Chang-Fu Hsieh, Ho-Yih Liu, Jenn-Che Wang, Sheng-Zehn Yang, Ching-Long Yeh, Chyi-Rong Chiou (2012) Classification of the high-mountain coniferous forests in Taiwan. Folia Geobotanica9(47):373–401. DOI: 10.1007/s12224-012-9128-y (SCI) Comment
Conference Papers
Conference Papers
†報告者
郭礎嘉†、劉又綾、林政道* (2026) 臺灣高山型國家公園歷史火燒恢復評估與風險評估模型建構。2026 動物行為暨生態研討會，1月26–27日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
李崇政†、陳明芫、林幸助、林瑞興、林政道、林奐宇、丁宗蘇 (2026) 應用IUCN全球生態系分類系統指認、分類並繪製臺灣生態系圖資。2026 動物行為暨生態研討會，1月26–27日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
吳立越†，林政道*，郭礎嘉 (2026) 臺灣綠潮假說與大型草食獸活動強度之海拔梯度關係。2026 動物行為暨生態研討會，1月26–27日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
郭礎嘉†、劉又綾、林政道* (2026) 在氣候變遷情境下臺灣高山型國家公園的野火風險。2026 動物行為暨生態研討會，1月26–27日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
林宥任†、王曉萱、William E. Grant、郭礎嘉、林政道 (2026) 火燒影響下臺灣冷杉(Abies kawakamii)與玉山箭竹(Yushania niitakayamensis)的動態競爭模型。2026 動物行為暨生態研討會，1月26–27日，臺北市（海報發表）。
倪昭穎†、郭礎嘉、吳立越、黃群庭、黃慎雯、林政道* (2026) 以圍籬排除放牧評估羊隻放牧對東吉島植物群落的影響。2026 動物行為暨生態研討會，1月26–27日，臺北市（海報發表）。
Li-Yue Wu†, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, William E. Grant, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2025) A test of the green wave hypothesis in effects of deer browsing on forest dynamics. The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference 2025. 19–22th, October, Chiba, Japan (Oral presentation).
Yen-Ju Chou†, Chu-Chia Kuo, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, William E. Grant, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2025) Assessing ecohydrological connectivity on alpine ecosystem under climate change in Taiwan. The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference 2025. 19–22th, October, Chiba, Japan (Oral presentation).
You-Ren Lin, Chu-Chia Kuo, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, William E. Grant, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2025) Effects of fire on the competition between Yushania niitakayamensis and Abies kawakamii. The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference 2025. 19–22th, October, Chiba, Japan (Oral presentation).
Chun-Ting Huang, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, William E. Grant, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2025) Predicting the species richness patterns along the elevational gradients. The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference 2025. 19–22th, October, Chiba, Japan (Poster presentation).
Chu-Chia Kuo†, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2025) Wildfire Risk Modeling in Taiwan’s High-Mountain National Parks under Climate Change. The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference 2025. 19–22th, October, Chiba, Japan (Oral presentation).
郭礎嘉†、劉又綾、林政道* (2025) 臺灣高山型國家公園森林火燒的過去、現在與未來。114年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月16–17日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
陳裕昌†、郭礎嘉、呂長澤、林政道* (2025) 颱風干擾對墾丁青蛙石海岸植群之影響。114年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月16–17日，臺北市（口頭發表）。[摘要]
Chu-Chia Kuo†, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2024) The effect of climate Change on Taiwan's alpine grasslands. The Joint Meeting of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Population Ecology and Taiwan-Japan Ecology Workshop 2024. 15–17th, November, Okinawa, Japan (Oral presentation).
Chun-Ting Huang†, Chu-Chia Kou, Yea-Chen Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2024) Ecotone effects at cloud forest boundaries drive multimodal patterns of fern species richness. The Joint Meeting of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Population Ecology and Taiwan-Japan Ecology Workshop 2024. 15–17th, November, Okinawa, Japan (Poster presentation).
I-Ju Huang†, Yong-Syuan Sih, Chu-Chia Kou, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin* (2024) Analysis of the impact of climate change on alpine herbaceous vegetation in Taiwan using functional traits. The Joint Meeting of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Population Ecology and Taiwan-Japan Ecology Workshop 2024. 15–17th, Nov., Okinawa, Japan
郭礎嘉†、黃群庭、林政道*。(2024) 臺灣霧林帶之氣候變化。113年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月17–18日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
黃奕儒†、司永瑄、郭礎嘉、劉和義、林政道*。(2024) 以植物功能性狀分析氣候變遷對臺灣高山草原植群之影響。113年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月17–18日，臺北市。
黃群庭†、林政道、劉以誠*。(2024) 臺灣西南部海拔梯度蕨類物種豐富度模式與物種組成。113年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月17–18日，臺北市
周晏如†、郭礎嘉、林政道*。(2024) 合歡山區域不同植被類型之土壤水分變化研究。113年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月17–18日，臺北市
劉又綾†、郭礎嘉、林政道*。(2024) 臺灣高山型國家公園歷史火燒復原狀態。113年森林資源永續發展研討會，10月17–18日，臺北市（口頭發表）。
Chu-Chia Kuo, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, and Cheng-Tao Lin†* (2024) Using multi-scale tools to detect how climate change affects alpine vegetation dynamics in subtropical moist region. XX International Botanical Congress, 21st–27th, July, Madrid, Spain (Oral presentation)
Chu-Chia Kuo†, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, and Cheng-Tao Lin* (2023) Assessment of extreme climate events and impact on alpine vegetation in Taiwan. The 65th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science, Coff Habour, Australia (Oral presentation).
Yu-Ling Liu†, Chu-Chia Kuo and Cheng-Tao Lin* (2023) Analysis of environmental causes of historical forest fires in Taiwan. The 65th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science, Coff Habour, Australia (Oral presentation).
Yung-Hsuan Szu†, Chu-Chia Kuo, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, and Cheng-Tao Lin* (2023) The role of species interactions on alpine vegetation communities under climate change. The 65th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science, Coff Habour, Australia (Poster presentation).
劉又綾†、郭礎嘉、林政道* (2023) 杜鵑營地火燒後植群恢復影響因子。2023動物行為暨生態研討會（口頭發表）。
周晏如†、郭礎嘉、林政道* (2023) 台灣高山植群的乾旱事件評估──以合歡山為例。2023動物行為暨生態研討會（壁報發表）。
林政道†、郭礎嘉 (2022) 臺灣高海拔地區氣候變遷與山峰植群變化。特有生物研究保育中心30週年回顧與展望—「臺灣生物多樣性研究的回顧與展望」研討會（口頭發表）。
賴宇傑†、林政道*、方引平 (2021) 澎湖縣東吉嶼羊隻食性與植食行為對植群變遷之影響。2021動物行為、生態暨環境教育研討會（壁報發表）。
李丁在†、郭礎嘉、林政道* (2021) 公民科學活動參與者的動機、成果和個人背景因素間的關聯-以iNaturalist使用者為例。2021動物行為、生態暨環境教育研討會（壁報發表）。
郭礎嘉、蘇昱†、劉和義、林政道* (2021) 高山草原植群功能性狀與氣候區位十年之變化。2021動物行為、生態暨環境教育研討會（口頭發表）。
陳心怡†、林政道、郭晉緯、方引平* (2021) 吃葷吃素？臺灣森鼠的排遺碎片形態與分子食性分析。2021動物行為、生態暨環境教育研討會（口頭發表）。
蘇昱†、郭礎嘉、劉和義、林政道* (2020) 雪山及大水窟區域高山草原植群變化與環境之關係。109年森林資源永續發展研討會（口頭發表）。
賴孟辰、郭礎嘉、林政道* (2020) 臺灣爺蟬鳴唱行為生態之探究。第31屆動物行為與生態學研討會（壁報發表）。
林政道†* (2019) 植物名錄交換格式標準。2019東亞植物分類研究暨彭鏡毅老師紀念研討會（壁報發表）。
Cheng-Tao Lin* and Chu-Chia Kuo (2018) Exploring the potential application of iNaturalist in Taiwan—a case study of plant phenology. The 3rd International Symposium of Biodiversity and Health in Southeast Asia (Oral presentation).
林政道†* (2017) 開源物種名錄產生器 checklister。臺灣植物分類學會年會暨植物多樣性與系統分類研討會（口頭發表）。
Cheng-Tao Lin†; Shih-To Sun, Katsuhiro Nakao, Motoki Higa, Ikutaro Tsuyama, Tzu-Ying Chen, Tetsuya Matsui, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Chyi-Rong Chiou (2012) Predicting potential habitats of Fagus hayatae in East Asia at last glacial maximum, present and 2080s. In Proceedings of the 55th Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (Oral presentation).
Cheng-Tao Lin†, Ching-Feng Li, David Zelený, Milan Chytrý, Yukito Nakamura, Ming-Yih Chen, Tze-Ying Chen, Yue-Joe Hsia, Chang-Fu Hsieh, Ho-Yih Liu, Jenn-Che Wang, Sheng-Zehn Yang, Ching-Long Yeh, Chyi-Rong Chiou* (2010) Classification of the high-mountain coniferous forests vegetation of Taiwan. In Proceedings of the 53rd Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (Oral presentation).
廖崇甫、黃羽萱、郭晉緯、林政道、方引平* (2017)「黃金」中的昆蟲秘密-排遺DNA高通量條碼分析探討。臺灣昆蟲學會年會，臺中 (壁報發表)
Cheng-Tao Lin†* (2017) Vegetation patterns of abandoned farms in Penghu southern islands. The 19th International Botanical Congress, Shenzhen, China (Oral presentation).
Cheng-Tao Lin†, Chyi-Rong Chiou, Guo-Zhang M. Song* (2008) The effects of species dominance on species distribution modelling. In: Mucina, L. et al. (eds). Frontiers of Vegetation Science—An Evolutionary Angle, p. 103. Keith Phillips Images, Somerset West (Oral presentation).
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