Understorey Vegetation Stability and Dynamics in Unmanaged Boreal Forests Along a Deposition Gradient in Sweden

Sammanfattning

The aims of this study were to investigate spatial patterns and temporal changes in understorey vegetation at four forest catchments forming a depositional gradient. Inventories of the bottom and field layers were carried out in the 1990s and repeated after 5-14 years, depending on catchment. It was hypothesized that changes and patterns in ground vegetation would be related to changes and patterns in N and S deposition. The data were analyzed using Ellenberg indices and multivariate methods. All catchments showed temporal changes in species composition. Analyses of the bottom layer were confounded by a change of field staff, but after accounting for this observer effect, differences in species composition between the catchments remained. Within catchments, the changes in species composition were unrelated to N or S deposition. Relationships between environmental factors, expressed as Ellenberg indices, and compositional patterns differed between catchments although Ellenberg indices showed small temporal changes.

Nyckelord

Long-term; Bryophytes; Vascular plants; Observer effect; Ellenberg

Publicerad i

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2011, Volym: 40, nummer: 8, sidor: 867-877 Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Grandin, Ulf

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

Skog
Övergödning
Klimat
Biologisk mångfald
Försurning


UKÄ forskningsämne

Skogsvetenskap
Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-011-0206-9

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/57729