[ESAC Seminar] Yaquan Chang

This talk will highlight the role of tectonic and geomorphic processing in shaping montane plant biodiversity patterns using the Hengduan Mountains region as a case study. Situated on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, the Hengduan Mountains’ exceptional diversity reflects a dynamic interplay between complex geology, monsoonal climates, and active tectonics from the Indian-Eurasian plate collision. By integrating species distribution modeling and environmental DNA to characterize plant assemblages, we demonstrate that habitat heterogeneity in terms of climatic and lithology is a first order process in driving montane biodiversity. However, geographic isolation through features such as mountain ridges are also important determinants for species dispersal. Moreover, tectonic history further contributed to the development of distinct floristic regions in the Hengduan Mountains across geological timescales. In summary, this talk will present a framework to understand earth surface processes in driving mountain biodiversity patterns through habitat creation, oscillation, and disruption.