A study of pattern and process in coastal vegetation using principal components analysis

✍ Scribed by Hobbs, R. J. ;Grace, J.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 948 KB
• Volume: 44
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5052
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00156624

✦ Synopsis

A study is made of the dune system at Tentsmuir Point National Nature Reserve, Scotland, using transects crossing the vegetation zonation. Principal Components Analysis and tabular ordination are used to analyse the data, and an attempt is made to relate the results obtained to the dynamics of the system. The effects of different management regimes are considered, and it is concluded that the establishment of pine on the area has the largest effect on the development of the vegetation. Reduction in grazing pressure by rabbits is found to increase species diversity slightly, but has no major influence as yet on vegetation development. While some information on the dynamics of the vegetation can be inferred, the problems involved in this are considered to be large, and the study raises a number of questions to be studied in greater detail. It is concluded that permanent plots would be the most effective method to employ. * Nomenclature follows Clapham, Tutin & Warburg (1962) for vascular plants, Watson (1968) for bryophytes, and Duncan (1970) for lichens.