From soaking wet to bone dry: predicting plant community composition along a steep hydrological gradient

• Published in: Journal of vegetation science Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 619 - 630
• Main Authors: Baastrup‐Spohr, Lars, Sand‐Jensen, Kaj, Nicolajsen, Sascha Veggerby, Bruun, Hans Henrik, Halvorsen, Rune
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Opulus Press 01.07.2015; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Alvar; botanical composition; Community assembly by species traits; drying; environmental factors; Environmental filtering; filters; Functional trait; Hydrological gradient; hydrology; interspecific variation; leaf area; limestone; plant communities; porosity; prediction; soaking; soil depth; Species richness; Sweden; Trait-environment relationship; water supply; waxes; Sweden; Sweden, Kalmar, Oeland

QUESTION: Why do plants grow where they grow? Prediction of species' occurrence and abundance in relation to the environment is a core aim of ecology, as is understanding the link between environmental stressors and adaptive traits. Community assembly may be viewed as a sequence of filters, sor...