Slope aspect modulates alpine meadow spatial homogeneity through niche differences, not fitness differences

Slope aspect modulates alpine meadow spatial homogeneity through niche differences, not fitness differences | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 28 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Slope aspect modulates alpine meadow spatial homogeneity through niche differences, not fitness differences Authors : Tong Gong , qing Yao 0000-0001-7111-7394 , xiao Li , Li Ma , qianjie Shan , Ping Yang , ling Zhang , Xin Li , qing Wang , shan Zhang , H Zhou 0000-0001-5224-6297 , and ping Wang 0000-0001-5107-9730 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176961319.97008831/v1 110 views 35 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Slope aspect modulates the spatial homogeneity of plant communities by altering species coexistence mechanisms. Modern coexistence theory posits that stable coexistence depends on the balance between niche differences (stabilizing mechanisms) and fitness differences (competitive asymmetry). How topographic factors like slope aspect modulate these mechanisms to influence community spatial patterns in alpine ecosystems remains unclear. We hypothesis that slope aspect regulates the spatial homogeneity of alpine meadow communities primarily by altering niche differences, and that this mechanism is most pronounced on environmentally stressful aspects. We surveyed community across four slope aspects (east, south, west, north) in Maqin County, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We developed proxy indices to quantify niche difference (from phylogenetic diversity and community integrity) and fitness difference (from species evenness). Community spatial homogeneity was assessed as the inverse of spatial variability in biomass and species composition. Slope aspect significantly influenced niche differences but not fitness differences. Accordingly, homogeneity in species composition varied with aspect. Critically, variance partitioning revealed that niche difference was the primary regulator of both biomass and species composition homogeneity, but this regulatory role was significant only on the environmentally stressful west-facing slope. Our findings demonstrate that slope aspect shapes community assembly via niche-based filtering. The predominance of niche difference in driving spatial homogeneity specifically under the stringent conditions of west-facing slopes underscores the context-dependency of coexistence mechanisms and highlights the critical role of stabilizing mechanisms in maintaining community structure across topographic gradients. Slope aspect modulates alpine meadow spatial homogeneity through niche differences, not fitness differences Xiaotong Gong 11Xiaotong Gong, Buqing Yao and Yongxiao Li should be considered joint first author. , Buqing Yao 2,3,4 , Yongxiao Li 1 , Li Ma 5 , Shan Renqianjie 6 , Ping Yang 2,7 , Huiling Zhang 1 , Xin Li 1 , Yaoqing Wang 2,7 , Dengshan Zhang 8 , Huakun Zhou 2,3,4 , Fangping Wang 1,* 1 College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, Qinghai, China 2 Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, Qinghai, China 3 Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, Qinghai, China 4 Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology of Cold Area in Qinghai Province, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, Qinghai, China 5 Qinghai grassland station, Xining 810000, Qinghai, China 6 Natural Resources and Forestry Grassland Bureau of Dari County, Dari County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 814200, Qinghai, China 7 College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China 8 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, 810008, Qinghai, China * Correspondence: Fangping Wang Email: [email protected] Tel & Fax: + 86 166 97078174 Address: College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, No.251 Ningda Road, Chengbei District, Xining City, Qinghai Province, P.R.China Supplementary Material File (figures.pdf) Download 747.08 KB File (main document.docx) Download 74.42 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 28 January 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords community ecology ecological experiment ecosystem function terrestrial Authors Affiliations Tong Gong Qinghai University View all articles by this author qing Yao 0000-0001-7111-7394 Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author xiao Li Academy of Animal science and Veterinary, Qinghai University View all articles by this author Li Ma Academy of Animal science and Veterinary, Qinghai University View all articles by this author qianjie Shan Natural Resources and Forestry Grassland Bureau of Dari County, Dari County View all articles by this author Ping Yang Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author ling Zhang Qinghai University View all articles by this author Xin Li Qinghua University View all articles by this author qing Wang Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author shan Zhang Academy of Animal science and Veterinary, Qinghai University View all articles by this author H Zhou 0000-0001-5224-6297 Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author ping Wang 0000-0001-5107-9730 [email protected] Qinghai University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 110 views 35 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Tong Gong, qing Yao, xiao Li, et al. Slope aspect modulates alpine meadow spatial homogeneity through niche differences, not fitness differences. Authorea . 28 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176961319.97008831/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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