Strategies of diaspore dispersal investment in Compositae: the case of the Andean highlands

Diaspore morphological traits in high-Andean Compositae and their main abiotic and biotic drivers are investigated, and it is tested whether they play a role in species distribution patterns across the naturally fragmented high-Andean grasslands. It is found that small achenes and high diaspore dispersal investment dominate among high-Andean Compositae, traits typical of mostly three tribes of African origin; but traits are also correlated with the environmental gradients within the high-Andean grasslands. Results also suggest that diaspore dispersal investment is likely to shape species distribution patterns in naturally fragmented habitats.