海拔是地衣多样性的重要影响因素。了解地衣的海拔分布格局是地衣多样性保护的基础。研究表明中国地卷属地衣的物种丰富度和个体丰富度沿海拔梯度呈单峰曲线,它们倾向于分布在受全球变暖影响较高的高海拔地区[(2,022±995)m],且具有较窄的海拔分布幅(约68%的物种分布于海拔为1,694-2,954m的地带),因而对其进行保护生物学的研究已十分迫切。地卷属11种地衣具有不同的海拔分布规律,这些分布规律与各自分布的海拔区间有关。基于11物种的海拔分析支持Rapoport法则。全球暖化对4种地衣的潜在威胁尤其强烈,即:大陆地卷Peltigera continentalis、长孢地卷P.dolichospora、克氏地卷P.kristinssonii和小地卷P.venosa。
Altitude is one of the most important factors influencing lichen biodiversity.Understanding the altitudinal distribution patterns of lichens is the first step towards the effective protection of lichen biodiversity.The lichen genus Peltigera tends to distribute at higher altitudes [(2,022±995)m] with a narrow altitudinal range(68% species occurring between 1,694-2,954m),suggesting its biodiversity can be highly affected by global warming.A unimodal distribution pattern was detected for both species richness and individual richness of the genus.The eleven species examined in detail have different altitudinal patterns that seem to be related to altitude.The altitudinal distribution of the eleven species evidently supports the Rapoport rule.The following four lichens may be most sensitive to global warming due to their high altitude distribution and narrow altitude range,viz.:Peltigera continentalis,P.dolichospora,P.kristinssonii and P.venosa.