The researchers studied plant distribution in the Ozarks by looking at factors like landform and climate. They found 332 plant species along a 10,000-meter path, with some species more common than others. The diversity of plants varied with elevation, showing different patterns at different scales. The relationship between elevation and species diversity was most clear at scales between 1,340 and 1,400 meters. Multiple scales need to be considered when looking at how landscape structure affects plant species.