A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) has uncovered how Earth's geological forces and climate shifts over millions of years created biodiversity hotspots in mountain ecosystems. Published in December 2025, the research analyzes 8,456 alpine plant species across five Northern Hemisphere mountain systems, tracing their evolutionary journey through tectonic uplift and global cooling patterns.
The findings demonstrate that mountain formation provided new high-altitude habitats for plant diversification, while cooling climates enabled species migration between previously isolated ranges. The Tibeto-Himalayan-Hengduan (THH) region emerged as a biodiversity "cradle," generating over 50% of new species through local evolution. In contrast, European and Middle Eastern alpine floras adapted from lower-elevation lineages, while Central Asia's Tianshan Mountains imported species from the THH region.
"This study connects Earth's pulse with plant life's rhythm," said XTBG's Xing Yaowu, co-corresponding author. "Mountains don't just host life – they actively engineer it through geological time." The research provides critical insights for conservation strategies in Asia's vulnerable mountain ecosystems, particularly as modern climate change alters alpine environments.
For investors and policymakers, the findings highlight the ecological significance of Asia's high-altitude regions, which contain 30% of global biodiversity hotspots. Academics note the study's interdisciplinary approach combining paleoclimatology, geology, and genomics offers new frameworks for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental shifts.
