Research site
This study was conducted in the alpine site of the Mt. Hehuanshan area
(Nantou County) in central Taiwan in 2017 and 2018. The elevation of the
research site was 2950–3230 m. Alpine regions in Taiwan are
characterized by a humid subtropical oceanic climate. Annual mean air
temperature at 3000 m elevation is 7.3 ºC, ranging from 1.5 ºC in
January to 11.5 ºC in July, and annual precipitation is 3630 mm, ranging
from 155 mm in December to 520 mm in June (average of 2007–2018). In
winter, daily minimum temperature is commonly below zero (–2.3 to –1.5
ºC) from December to February. Major flowering periods of alpine plants
last from late May to mid-September during which daily minimum and
maximum temperatures are maintained around 6–7 ºC and 17–19 ºC,
respectively.