Island biogeography theory and habitat heterogeneity help explain global patterns of Rhododendron diversity

Mountains are defined by their prominence, steep sides, and significant height above the surrounding regions. They harbor exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and a great number of endemic species worldwide, which are also extremely sensitive to the ongoing global climate change. Nevertheless, despite the importance of mountain biodiversity to biogeography and ecology, the underlying mechanisms that generate and maintain the biodiversity are not well understood.