Nature Communications (May 2021)

Sedimentary ancient DNA reveals a threat of warming-induced alpine habitat loss to Tibetan Plateau plant diversity

  • Sisi Liu,
  • Stefan Kruse,
  • Dirk Scherler,
  • Richard H. Ree,
  • Heike H. Zimmermann,
  • Kathleen R. Stoof-Leichsenring,
  • Laura S. Epp,
  • Steffen Mischke,
  • Ulrike Herzschuh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22986-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Long-term sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) records can help inform how biodiversity will likely respond to future climate change. Here, Liu et al. reconstruct plant diversity at the margin of the Tibetan Plateau over the last ~18,000 years using sedaDNA and use this record to predict future diversity change.