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By controlling their growth, alpine plants do not dilute the scarce
nutrients they obtain from their alpine environment. The major source
of nitrogen is microbial recycling of organic debris. Quite
unexpectedly, the tissues of alpine plants are rich or even richer in
nutrients than tissues in related lowland taxa. When nutrients are added,
typically slow growing, small alpine taxa are overgrown by vigorous
"ruderal" species. Animals play a key role in nutrient cycling. The
presence or absence of calcium rich (calcareous or dolomitic)
substrate selects for certain taxa.
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