ISSN:
1573-5052
Keywords:
Classification
;
Clustered distributions
;
Discriminant function
;
Gradient
;
Relief height
;
Soil water conditions
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The goal of the present study resides in the attempt to falsify the discontinuum hypothesis. To this end the local variation in vegetation structure along a continuously changing environmental gradient was studied. The object under study was a 116 m long transect in the unspoiled flood plain forests of the Sava valley in Croatia, which contains stands of three widespread forest community types. The soil water conditions function as an independent variable of the physical-chemical environment, influencing the vegetation structure. It gradually changes within the transect according to relief height. By contrast ceteris paribus conditions obtain for climatic relations and nutrient supply. The investigation is based on 116 sample plots in all, each of 8 square metres in area. The type of structural change is elucidated by means of a vegetation table, presentation of the frequency distribution of plant species, a contingency table, non-metric multidimensional scaling, a discriminant function and a cluster analysis. Variation in relief height produces a continuous change in the forest vegetation. Nevertheless, there are clearly recognisable leaps between, and a clear clustering of plant species within, the stands of the various community types. The type of structural change corresponds to the ‘Non-linear and continuous’ — ‘Tendency for association’ model, and the pattern of distribution of plant species corresponds to the ‘Clustered distributions’ model of Scott (1974). In this connection, discussion is conducted about the question of the organisation of plant communities and whether it is possible to classify them.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00033197
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