Abstract
A transect in grassland vegetation in the southern part of the Netherlands, showing both a very gradual and a more marked transition in species composition, was sampled as regards species frequency and a number of soil variables. Clustering (TABORD) and Principal Component Analysis revealed the two types of vegetation boundaries, a strong, rigid and a weak, gradual boundary, and the gradient situation in the transect. Species performance curves were tested for Gaussian form, but less than half of the species showed this form even though limits for acceptance were mild. The few species showing a Gaussian response curve clearly illustrate the two types of vegetation boundaries in this transect in agreement with Whittaker’s model for such boundaries.
In memory of R. H. Whittaker
Species nomenclature follows Heukels & Van Ooststroom (1970).
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© 1985 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht
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Werger, M.J.A., Louppen, J.M.W., Eppink, J.H.M. (1985). Species performances and vegetation boundaries along an environmental gradient. In: Peet, R.K. (eds) Plant community ecology: Papers in honor of Robert H. Whittaker. Advances in vegetation science, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5526-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5526-4_5
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