Alpine wetlands in the West Carpathians: vegetation survey and vegetation–environment relationships
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Preslia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Botany |
| Keywords | azonal habitats; bogs; environmental gradients; fens; species richness; springs; water chemistry |
| Description | Wetland vegetation in the sub(alpine) zone of theWest Carpathians (Poland, Slovakia) was studied with particular reference to the following questions: (i) What are the main types of (sub)alpine fen, bog and spring vegetation above the timberline in theWest Carpathians? (ii) Which major environmental gradients are associated with the variation in floristic composition? (iii) What determines the alpha diversity of bryophytes and vascular plants in the different vegetation types? Vegetation plots were sampled and direct measurements of certain environmental characteristics recorded. Cluster analysis was used to distinguish the vegetation types, DCA and CCA to reveal the main vegetation gradients and environmental factors, and general regression models to identify the factors determining the alpha diversity. Classification at the level of 12 clusters was ecologically and syntaxonomically interpretable. Two associations not mentioned in the most recent vegetation survey of Slovakia were distinguished. |
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