Summary Climate change is forcing species to shift their distribution ranges. Animal seed dispersers might be particularly important in assisting plants tracking suitable climates to higher elevations. However, this role is still poorly understood due to a lack of comprehensive multi‐guild datasets along elevational gradients. We compiled seed dispersal networks for the five altitudinal vegetation belts of the Tenerife Island (0–3718 m above sea level) to explore how plant and animal species might facilitate the mutual colonisation of uphill habitats under climate change. The overall network comprised 283 distinct interactions between 73 plant and 27 animal species, with seed dispersers offering viable pathways for plants to colonise upper vegetation belts. A pivotal role is played by a lizard as island‐level hub, while four birds and one introduced mammal (rabbit) are also important connectors between belts. Eleven plant species were empirically found to be actively dispersed to elevations beyond their current known range, with observed vertical dispersal distances largely surpassing those required to escape climate change. Furthermore, over half of the plants arriving at higher elevations were exotic. Functionally diverse disperser communities are crucial for enabling plants tracking climate change on mountains, but exotic plants might particularly benefit from this upward lift.

中文翻译：

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爬树、爬：多样化的分散群落是帮助植物在海拔梯度上跟踪气候变化的关键


总结 气候变化迫使物种改变其分布范围。动物种子传播器在帮助植物追踪适宜的气候到更高海拔方面可能特别重要。然而，由于缺乏沿海拔梯度的全面多公会数据集，人们对这一作用仍然知之甚少。我们为特内里费岛（海拔 0-3718 m）的五个海拔植被带编制了种子传播网络，以探索动植物物种如何在气候变化下促进上坡栖息地的相互定殖。整个网络包括 73 种植物和 27 种动物物种之间的 283 种不同相互作用，种子传播器为植物在上部植被带定植提供了可行的途径。蜥蜴作为岛屿上的枢纽发挥着关键作用，而四只鸟和一种外来哺乳动物（兔子）也是腰带之间的重要连接器。经验发现 11 种植物主动分散到超出其当前已知范围的高地，观察到的垂直传播距离大大超过了逃避气候变化所需的距离。此外，到达较高海拔地区的植物中有一半以上是外来植物。功能多样化的分散体群落对于使植物能够在山区跟踪气候变化至关重要，但外来植物可能特别受益于这种上升。