Application of an optical nitrate profiler to high-and low-turbidity coastal shelf waters

Here,we report the results of high-resolution nitrate measurements using an optical nitrate profiler(in situ ultraviolet spectrophotometer,ISUS)along transect across a high-turbidity shelf(East China Sea)and a low-turbidity shelf(Chukchi Sea).The ISUS-measured nitrate concentrations closely reproduced the results measured by conventional bottle methods in low-turbidity waters.However,for high-turbidity waters of the East China Sea(salinity<30),a correction factor of 1.19 was required to match the standard bottle measurements.The high-resolution ISUS data revealed subtle spatial variability(e.g.,a subsurface nitrate minimum)that may have been missed if based solely on bottle results.Four main structures of the nitracline on the East China Sea are apparent from the ISUS nitrate profile.High-resolution nitrate data are important for studying nitrate budgets and nutrient dynamics on continental shelves.

Extensional structures of the Nan'an Basin in the rifting tip of the South China Sea: Implication for tectonic evolution of the southwestern continental margin

Nan'an Basin is a giant hydrocarbon basin,but its tectonic division scheme and associated fault systems has not been well understood.Based on newly acquired seismic data from the southwestern margin of the South China Sea,this study analyzed the structural units,tectonic feature and geodynamics of the sedimentary basin.The new data suggests that the Nan0 an Basin is a rift basin oriented in the NE-SW direction,rather than a pull-apart basin induced by strike-slip faults along the western margin.The basin is a continuation of the rifts in the southwest South China Sea since the late Cretaceous.It continued rifting until the middle Miocene,even though oceanic crust occurred in the Southwest Subbasin.However,it had no transfer surface at the end of spreading,where it was characterized by a late middle Miocene unconformity(reflector T3).The Nan'an Basin can be divided into eight structural units by a series of NE-striking faults.This study provides evidences to confirm the relative importance and interplay between regional strike-slips and orthogonal displacement during basin development and deformation.The NE-SW-striking dominant rift basin indicates that the geodynamic drivers of tectonic evolution in the western margin of the South China Sea did not have a large strike-slip mechanism.Therefore,we conclude that a large strike-slip fault system did not exist in the western margin of the South China Sea.

Role of the immune microenvironment in bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration:from mechanism to therapeuticopportunity

Bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration is a complex spatiotemporal process recruiting a variety of cell types,whose activity and interplay must be precisely mediated for effective healing post-injury.Although extensive strides have been made in the understanding of the immune microenvironment processes governing bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration,effective clinical translation of these mechanisms remains a challenge.Regulation of the immune microenvironment is increasingly becoming a favorable target for bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration;therefore,an in-depth understanding of the communication between immune cells and functional tissue cells would be valuable.Herein,we review the regulatory role of the immune microenvironment in the promotion and maintenance of stem cell states in the context of bone,cartilage,and soft tissue repair and regeneration.We discuss the roles of various immune cell subsets in bone,cartilage,and soft tissue repair and regeneration processes and introduce novel strategies,for example,biomaterial-targeting of immune cell activity,aimed at regulating healing.Understanding the mechanisms of the crosstalk between the immune microenvironment and regeneration pathways may shed light on new therapeutic opportunities for enhancing bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration through regulation of the immune microenvironment.

Potential impacts of Three Gorges Dam in China on the ecosystem of East China Sea

The Changjiang River in China was dammed in 2003. The possible changes in matters fluxes from the river downstream after the completion of Three Gorges Dam and their potential impacts on the ecosystem of the East China Sea are discussed . The estuarine and coastal waters in the East China Sea were heavily fertilized by the inflow of nutrient-rich freshwater from the Changjiang River, which has led to severe eutrophication and frequent harmful algal blooms ,thus worsening the ecosystem health in this area. Analy- sis showed that the nutrient loadings are very likely to be reduced in the lower Changjiang River due to the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Especially for the total phosphorus, the discharges to the East China Sea will be reduced by one-third, which would relieve the severe eutrophication in this area. However, the expected decrease in the riverine silicate discharge would lead the ratio of silicon to nitrogen to be much less than 1 in the estuarine and coastal waters and thus may cause an elevation of flagellate growth. The changes in the annual water discharges and their seasonal distributions below the dam will be minor. Reduction of suspended particulate matter loading, due to the sedimentation behind the dam, will reduce the nutrient loadings of the particulate form especially for phosphorus, and decrease the turbidity of estuarine and coastal waters. On the other hand, this may enhance the erosion of the delta and the coasts as well as modifythe benthic ecosystem.

Testicular expression of survivin and human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT)associated with spermatogenic function in infertile patients

Aim： To characterize the coexpression of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis （IAF）, and human telomerase reverse transcriptase （hTERT） in human testes with varying spermatogenic function. Methods： Transcript levels of survivin mRNA and hTERT mRNA were determined in normal testes （n = 11） and testes with defective spermatogenesis （n = 28） using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The histological work-up was performed according to a modified Johnsen score. Results： Expressions of both survivin and hTERT were highest at median levels of 96.8 and 709 in normal spermatogenesis and dropped to 53.3 and 534 in testes with postmeiotic spermatogenic arrest （n = 10）. In severe spermatogenic failure （n = 18）, survivin expression was lacking in most specimens （n = 16）, whereas at least low levels of testicular hTERT expression were largely detectable with a normalized expression of 73 in premeiotic spermatogenic arrest （n = 7） and 45 in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome （SCOS） （n = 3）. Both survivin and hTERT expressions increased with a progressing Johnsen score （P for trend = 0.001）. Conclusion： Although both survivin and hTERT are correlated with spermatogenic function, they show different expression patterns in testes of infertile patients. These findings substantiate results from studies in the rodent testis suggesting a predominant expression of survivin in meiotically dividing germ cells. （Asian J Andro12006 Jan; 8： 95-100）

Benthic nutrient recycling in shallow coastal waters of the Bohai Sea

Sediment-water fluxes of N and P species in the Bohai Sea were investigated in Septem-ber-October 1998 and April-May 1999. The benthic fluxes of nutrient species were determined by incubating sediment core samples with bottom seawater bubbled with air or nitrogen. -2NO,+4NH, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and phosphorus (TDP), and -34PO showed a net exchange flux from seawater to sediment, while -3NO, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and -23SiO were released from sediment to seawater in the Bohai Sea. Sediment-water nutrient exchange increases DIN and reduces the phosphorus load in the Bohai Sea. The release of silicate from sediment to overlying seawater reduces potential silicate limitation of primary production resulted from decrease of riverine discharge. The exchange flux of nutrients showed no obvious seasonal variation. The present study showed that the concentrations and composition of nutrients in the water column were affected by suspended sediment, and that not all the exchangeable phosphate in sediment could be released via sediment resuspension.

Architecture and Software Design for a Service Robot in an Elderly-Care Scenario

Systems for ambient assisted living(AAL) that integrate service robots with sensor networks and user monitoring can help elderly people with their daily activities, allowing them to stay in their homes and live active lives for as long as possible. In this paper, we outline the AAL system currently developed in the European project Robot-Era, and describe the engineering aspects and the serviceoriented software architecture of the domestic robot, a service robot with advanced manipulation capabilities. Based on the robot operating system(ROS) middleware, our software integrates a large set of advanced algorithms for navigation, perception, and manipulation. In tests with real end users, the performance and acceptability of the platform are evaluated.

Implications of tree species–environment relationships for the responsiveness of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate change

Climate warming is expected to advance treelines to higher elevations. However, empirical studies in diverse mountain ranges give evidence of both advancing alpine treelines as well as rather insignificant responses. In this context, we aim at investigating the sensitivity and responsiveness of the near-natural treeline ecotone in Rolwaling Himal, Nepal, to climate warming. We analysed population densities of tree species along the treeline ecotone from closed forest stands via the krummholz belt to alpine dwarf shrub heaths(3700-4200 m) at 50 plots in 2013 and 2014. We quantified species-environment relationships, i.e. the change ofenvironmental conditions(e.g., nutrient and thermal deficits, plant interactions) across the ecotone by means of redundancy analyses, variation partitioning and distance-based Moran's eigenvector maps. In particular, we focus on explaining the high competitiveness of Rhododendron campanulatum forming a dense krummholz belt and on the implications for the responsiveness of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate change. Results indicate that treeline trees in the ecotone show species-specific responses to the influence of environmental parameters, and that juvenile and adult tree responses are modulated by environmental constraints in differing intensity. Moreover, the species-environment relationships suggest that the investigated krummholz belt will largely prevent theupward migration of other tree species and thus constrain the future response of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate warming.

Species diversity,population structure and regeneration of woody species in fallows and mature stands of tropical woodlands of southeast Angola

This study in the dry tropical woodlands of SE Angola in Cuando-Cubango Province assessed the diversity and composition of woody species in fallows compared to those in mature woodlands. We assessed the population structure of the most harvested woody species by calculating size class distribution and evaluated their regeneration potential based on the density of saplings. The vegetation was surveyed in 20 plots of 20 × 50 m(1000 m2). In each plot, we measured the diameter at breast height(DBH) of all woody species with DBH ≥ 5 cm. The saplings were counted, identified and recorded; 718 individuals, corresponding to 34 species in 32 genera and 15 families were recorded. The size class distribution of target woody species showed three different patterns in fallows and mature woodlands. In general,most of the smaller diameter classes had more individuals than the larger ones did, showing that the regeneration may take place. However, in some diameter classes, the absence of larger stems indicated selective logging of larger trees. Few saplings were recorded in the fallows or mature woodlands; fire frequency and intensity is probably the main obstacle for seed germination and seedling survival rates in the studied area.

Genetic association of autoimmune hepatitis and human leucocyte antigen in German patients

AIM: To report on our large German collective and updated data of 142 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) type 1. METHODS: Key investigations performed were liver biopsy, serum autoantibodies as well as serum markers such as IgG and elevated transaminases. Antinuclear antigen (ANA) and smooth muscle antigen (SMA) autoantibodies characterized type 1 AIH. Type 3 (AIH) was solely characterized by the occurrence of soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas antigen (SLA/LP) autoantibodies either with or without ANA or SMA autoantibodies. RESULTS: Most prevalent HLAs were A2 (68 patients, 48%), B8 (63 patients, 44%), C7 (90 patients, 63%), DR3 (49 patients, 38%), DR4 (49 patients, 38%) and DQ2 (42 patients, 30%). Compared to the Italian and North American patients, we found fewer patients with a DQ2 subtype. Furthermore, the B8-DR3-DQ2 human leucocyte antigen (HLA) was also less prominent compared to the North American patients. However, prevalences of B8, DR3, DR4, DR7, DR11 and DR13 were comparable to the Italian and North American patients. Furthermore, we report on an additional subgroup of patients with SLA/LP positive AIH. Generally, in this subgroup of patients the same HLA subtypes were favoured as the AIH type 1. CONCLUSION: Although HLA subtypes were comparable between these three collectives, the German patients were distinct from the Italian and North American patients with respect to DQ2 and from the North American patients with respect to B8-DR3-DQ2HLA. A clinical correlation, e.g. difference in severity or treatability of AIH type 1, has yet to be determined.

Analyses of the long-term salinity variability in the Bohai Sea and the northern Huanghai (Yellow) Sea

Based on the comprehensive collection of the field observed salinity of the Bohai Sea （BHS） and the northern Huanghai Sea （NHS） from the 1950s to the present, the patterns of 10-years-averaged salinity at the different layers in the recent five decades （the 1950s, the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s） are obtained by the spatial-temporal interpolation technique with the scrupulous data quality control in this study. Then, by combining the spatial-temporal interpolation technique with successive correction method, the annual distributions of salinity both in the BHS and in the NHS are obtained as well. The data analyses indicate that the overall salinity in the BHS and the NHS increases from the 1960s till the present, with the increase of annual mean salinity of 0.04 psu from the 1950s, and the maximum increase rate of salinity is about 0.14 psu/a in the Bohai Bay. The high salinity tongue extended significantly from the NHS into the BHS. The intensified eastern wind field is related to the western intrusion of the NHS warm current, which probably leads to the moving forward of the high salinity water mass into the BHS. However, it is rather different from the salinity distribution characteristics between the 1950s and the 1960s. The extensive precipitation in the 1960s could lead to an increase in the discharge of the Huanghe River, which might result in the decrease of salinity in the BHS. But the salinity isoline of 32 in the NHS still extended significantly into the BHS in the 1960s. Since the 1980s, the patterns of salinity distribution have changed thoroughly. The salinity in the central area of the BHS was low, while the salinity in the Bohai Bay and the Liaodong Bay was higher than the other regions with its horizontal salinity gradient decreasing in the 1980s. The Empirical Orthogonal Function Analysis （EOF） is also conducted to study the interannual salinity variability of the BHS and the NHS. The correlation coefficient between the time coefficient series of the main mode and the Huanghe River discharge can reach-64.57%. It can be concluded that salinity variation of the BHS and the NHS has strong negative correlation with the Huanghe River discharge.

Periodic Signals of the Milky Way Concealed in Terrestrial Sedimentary Basin Fills and in Planetary Magmatism?

Long periodic geodynamic processes with durations between 150 and 600 Million years appear to be in phase with similar galactic cycles, caused by the path of the solar system through the spiral arms of the Milky Way. This path is assumed by some authors to cause climate change due to cosmic ray fluctuations, affecting the cloud formation and the related albedo of the Earth, which periodically lead to glaciations every 150 Ma. With the glaciations, the sea level fluctuates accordingly. Subsequently, the varying sizes of shallow seas are causing periodic changes of the Moon’s?tidal dissipation, which affects presumably other geodynamic processes on the Earth. The Moon?may therefore synchronize directly or indirectly long periodic Phanerozoic cycles (sea level, orogeny, magmatism, sedimentation, etc.) with the Milky Way. As sea level fluctuations, orogeny, sedimentation and magmatism can be described as members of a geodynamic feedback system;no apparent reasons appear to be required to assign a cause of the cyclicity to agents outside of the?galactic-climatically synchronized Earth-Moon system. However, recent observations of young?volcanism on the near Earth terrestrial planets may require a new understanding. Magmatic/volcanic episodes on Venus, Mars and Mercury as well as on the Earth’s Moon are apparently contemporaneous thermal events accompanying increased magmatic/volcanic activities on the?Earth,?following a 300 myr cycle. Therefore, a collateral galactic thermal source within the Milky Way?appears to be needed that only affects the interior of the planets without any recognizable direct?effect on life and geology on the Earth. The search for such a source may lead to astrophysical?questions, related to a spiral arm affected distribution of dark energy, dark matter or even specific?neutrino sources. However, all possible astrophysical answers are outside of the author’s competence.

Assimilation of surface currents into a regional model over Qingdao coastal waters of China

Surface currents measured by high frequency （HF） radar arrays are assimilated into a regional ocean model over Qingdao coastal waters based on Kalman filter method. A series of numerical experiments are per- formed to evaluate the performance of the data assimilation schemes. In order to optimize the analysis pro- cedure in the traditional ensemble Kalman filter （ENKF）, a different analysis scheme called quasiensemble Kaman filter （QENKF） is proposed. The comparisons between the ENKF and the QENKF suggest that both them can improve the simulated error and the spatial structure. The estimations of the background error covariance （BEC） are also assessed by comparing three different methods： Monte Carlo method; Canadian quick covariance （CQC） method and data uncertainty engine （DUE） method. A significant reduction of the root-mean-square （RMS） errors between model results and the observations shows that the CQC method is able to better reproduce the error statistics for this coastal ocean model and the corresponding external forcing. In addition, the sensibility of the data assimilation system to the ensemble size is also analyzed by means of different scales of the ensemble size used in the experiments. It is found that given the balance of the computational cost and the forecasting accuracy, the ensemble size of 50 will be an appropriate choice in the Qingdao coastal waters.

Transient expression of the <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>callose synthase PMR4 increases penetration resistance to powdery mildew in barley

Localized cell wall thickenings, so called papillae, are a common plant defense response to fungal attack at sites of penetration of the plant cell. The major constituent of papillae is callose, a (1,3)-β-glucan polymer, which contributes to slowing or blocking the invading fungal hyphae. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we could recently show that the overexpression of PMR4(POWDERY MILDEW RESITANT 4), which encodes a stress induced callose synthase, results in complete powdery mildew resistance. To evaluate if these findings are also transferable to monocot crops, we transiently expressed PMR4 under control of the 35S promoter in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings, which were subsequently inoculated with the virulent powdery mildew Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Fusion of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) to PMR4 allowed the identification of successfully transformed barley cells, which showed an increased penetration resistance to B. graminis compared to control cells that express only GFP.PMR4-GFP localized in a similar pattern at the site of attempted fungal penetration as observed inA. thaliana, which suggests that similar transport mechanisms of the callose synthase might exist in dicot and monocot plants.

Do Near-Solar-System Supernovae Enhance Volcanic Activities on Earth and Neighbouring Planets on Their Paths through the Spiral Arms of the Milky Way, and What Might Be the Consequences for Estimations of Earth’s History and Predictions for Its Future?

Recent observations of young volcanism on the near-Earth terrestrial planets require a new understanding. Magmatic/volcanic episodes on Venus, Mars and Mercury, as well as on Earth’s Moon, are apparently contemporaneous thermal events that accompanied increased magmatic/volcanic activity on Earth, following a 300-Myr cycle. A collateral galactic thermal source in the Milky Way appears to be needed that would predominantly affect the interior of the planets and, perhaps indirectly, Earth’s biosphere, compared to other galactic sources, such as intense cosmic rays or large, rocky bolides. The search for such a source leads to near-Earth supernovae, with their neutrino output, and to the question of whether those neutrinos could act as energy transmitters to heat up the body of Earth, and also enhance its short-term magmatic processes;for example, Cenozoic anorogenic volcanism. This observation challenges present assumptions and paradigms about Earth’s history, and requires the following reconsiderations: 1) the real origin of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction;2) the general radioactive age determinations of rocks;and 3) geodynamic modelling using additional, external heat sources.

Liposarcoma of the breast arising in a malignant phyllodes tumor:A case report and review of the literature

Liposarcoma of the breast is a very rare malignant tumor. It can clinically manifest as a palpable breast mass and mimic primary breast cancer. We report an unusual case of a 51-year-old female who presented with an asymptomatic right breast mass, which was histologically diagnosed as well differentiated liposarcoma arisen within malignant phyllodes tumor. The patient underwent breast conserving surgery, received no adjuvant treatment and is disease-free after 2 years. Radiological and histopathological features are presented and described in detail. Data from the literature are presented and therapy recommendations discussed.

A Comprehensive Investigation of an Offshore Active Fault in the Western Sagami Bay, Central Japan

Offshore active faults, especially those in the deep sea, are very difficultto study because of the water and sedimentary cover. To characterize the nature and geometry ofoffshore active faults, a combination of methods must be employed. Generally, seismic profiling isused to map these faults, but often only fault-related folds rather than fracture planes are imaged.Multi-beam swath bathymetry provides information on the structure and growth history of a faultbecause movements of an active fault are reflected in the bottom morphology. Submersible anddeep-tow surveys allow direct observations of deformations on the seafloor (including fracture zonesand microstructures). In the deep sea, linearly aligned cold seep communities provide indirectevidence for active faults and the spatial migration of their activities. The Western Sagami Bayfault (WSBF) in the western Sagami Bay off central Japan is an active fault that has been studied indetail using the above methods. The bottom morphology, fractured breccias directly observed andphotographed, seismic profiles, as well as distribution and migration of cold seep communitiesprovide evidence for the nature and geometry of the fault. Focal mechanism solutions of selectedearthquakes in the western Sagami Bay during the period from 1900 to 1995 show that the maximumcompression trends NW-SE and the minimum stress axis strikes NE-SW, a stress pattern indicating aleft-lateral strike-slip fault.

Surgical outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for resolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Bariatric procedures are considered superior to medical therapies in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(LRYGB)and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG)are the most commonly used procedures for weight loss and comorbidity resolution worldwide.However,it is not yet known whether the degree of T2DM is influenced by the choice of bariatric procedure.AIM To quantitatively compare T2DM resolution over 1-5 years follow-up by LRYGB and LSG in morbidly obese patients.METHODS We searched the selected databases for full-text English language clinical studies that compared the effectiveness of LRYGB and LSG for T2DM resolution.Review manager 5.3 was used for data analysis,and the overall effect summary was represented in a forest plot.RESULTS From 1,650 titles retrieved by an initial search,we selected nine studies for this research.We found insignificant differences for T2DM resolution by LRYGB and LSG,with an odds ratio of 0.93(95%CI:0.64-1.35,Z statistics=0.38,P=0.71).Additionally,subset analyses for T2DM resolution showed insignificant differences after 24 mo(χ^2=1.24,df=4,P=0.87,overall Z effect=0.23),36 mo(χ^2=0.41,df=2,P=0.81,overall Z effect=0.51),and 60 mo(χ^2=4.75,df=3,P=0.19,overall Z effect=1.20)by LRYGB and LSG.This study reports a T2DM remission rate of 82.3%by LRYGB and 80.7%by LSG.CONCLUSION This study reports similar T2DM resolution rates by both LRYGB and LSG during 1-5 years of follow-up.However,long-term follow-up of 10 years is needed to further substantiate these findings.

Grazing impact on forage quality and macronutrient content of rangelands in Qilian Mountains, NW China

An important indicator of the rangeland health, associated with land degradation, is the ability of semi-natural rangelands to provide forage of sufficient quality for livestock production. In Qilian Mountains(Gansu Province, NW China) biomass production and forage quality are dependent on the seasonality of precipitation and temperature; most of the precipitation falls during summer season, when sheep, goats and yaks graze mountain rangelands. To sustain the rangelands and to improve the management strategies, the assessment of the forage quality should be implemented. The purpose of this research was to study the response of biomass, forage quality and macronutrient content different levels of grazing intensity in Qilian rangelands. We sampled aboveground biomass in the growing seasons in 2012 and 2013 within spring/autumn or summer grazing regimes in two altitudinal zones below and above 3000 m a.s.l.(montane-subalpine and subalpine-alpine respectively). In order to estimate forage quality, biomass was sampled in 1 m × 1 m plots, assigned to the center of 10 ×10 m sites, fromwhich we collected different indicator parameters of rangeland health. Mineral and fiber content of forage biomass was estimated under different levels of grazing intensity with regard to the growing period. It was found that an increase in grazing intensity led to a decrease in dry matter weight. No linearity was observed in the relationship between nutritive value and grazing intensity. The highest fiber content(59.20 %) was found in plots mostly disturbed by grazing. The highest protein(16.30 %) and the lowest fiber(51.30 %) contents were associated with slightly grazing intensity. Concentrations of the mineral elements, such as Zn, P, K and S varied significantly and showed maximum values under low grazing intensity.

Plant functional type approach for a functional interpretation of altitudinal vegetation zones in the Alborz Mts., Iran

Mountains are an excellent system for evaluating ecological and biogeographical patterns. The obvious variations of the environmental factors along the altitude create different zones with adapted plant assemblages. However, few studies make use of plant functional type(PFT) for describing the variation of vegetation along altitudinal gradients. A PFT is a group of taxa with similar traits which respond similarly to the environmental gradients. In this study, we used PFTs as indicators describing five vegetation zones in the western Alborz Mt, Iran from 2000 – 4500 m. The plant trait data presented here covers six plant traits including growth form, stemleaf ratio, spinescence, hairiness, leaf consistency and plant height of 297 species. We considered altitude and soil factors to test the importance of environmental variables. We applied a multivariate analysis of three table ordination, i.e. environmental, species, and traits data to identify the PFTs. We further applied fourth-corner statistic to quantify trait-environment relationships. A constrained hierarchical clustering was used to detect five altitudinal zones and two zones of low and high nitrogen concentration. With regard to altitude wediscuss the distribution of species, traits and PFTs. Growth form, plant height and stem-leaf ratio were significantly related to altitude and nitrogen. We identified 19 PFTs from which 18 were significantly associated to one or more altitudinal zones. While the lower altitudinal zones contain a variety of PFTs higher altitudes contain less PFTs with the highest altitude containing only one single PFT, tiny rosette plants with soft mesomorphic leaves. We identified grazing and climatic harshness as well as rockiness as the most important drivers of the distribution of plant functional traits and types across the studied gradient.