The class Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae in the Western Carpathians: indirect gradient analysis, species groups and their relation to phytosociological classification
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2002 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Biologia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Botany |
| Keywords | COCKTAIL method; detrended correspondence analysis; fen; mire; phi-coefficient; Slovakia; vegetation survey |
| Description | Species groups created by using DCA ordination for Western Carpathian fen vegetation (Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae) are presented and compared with species groups used in phytosociological classification. The analysis of 1353 relevés from the western parts of Carpathians (Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine) confirms that the poor-rich gradient from alkaline to acidic and dystrophic conditions controls the main variability in the Western Carpathian fens. The classification of Carpathian fens reflects this feature. The second most important cause of variation in species data can be related to organic matter (or lacustrine chalk) content in the soil. Several groups are related to meadow or bog vegetation. The groups of diagnostic species published for Slovakia were verified using phi-coefficient calculation. Among them, the order and alliance groups were confirmed best. The Caricetalia davallianae, Caricetalia fuscae and Molinietalia groups are the most comprehensive. Three association groups were verified. All results confirm the crucial importance of bryophytes as indicators of habitat conditions, which makes this taxonomic group important for phytosociological classification. |
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