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Population models reveal ecological niches of dwarf birch species in wetlands and tundra, suggesting adaptive strategies.
The most characteristic plant communities of the dwarf birches Betula nana and B. humilis were identified and described. The current range of B. nana and B. humilis in the Urals, Cis-Urals, and Trans-Urals was modeled using MaxEnt software, taking into account climatic and edaphic factors. The ecological optima of limiting factors for B. nana and B. humilis in the Urals are shown. The wider ecological range of B. nana compared to B. humilis allows this species successful adaptation to a wide range of altitudinal and latitudinal conditions, including mires of different trophic status. The dependence of B. humilis on the warm and cold quarters temperatures and the availability of groundwater determines its limited occurrence in the Ural Mountains.
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Medvedeva et al. (2025) studied this question.
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