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A phyto-ecological investigation of the Mount Albert serpentine plateau

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The Ecology of Areas with Serpentinized Rocks

Part of the book series: Geobotany ((GEOB,volume 17))

Abstract

Principal coordinate analysis of soil data collected from Mount Albert serpentine outcrops suggests that the highest Mg/Ca quotients are found in the well to moderately well drained soils. Twelve taxa are found to be more or less restricted to serpentine-rich soils. Of these, 6 are exclusive (Adiantum pedatum var. aleuticum, Polystichum mohrioides, Cheilanthes siliquosa, Arenaria marcescens, Armeria maritima var. labradorica, Lychnis alpina) and 6 are preferentials (Arenaria humifusa, Arenaria sajanensis Artemisia campestris var. borealis, Festuca altaica Rhodendron lapponicum, Salix arctica) Most of these taxa are found to occur more frequently in communities dominated by Rhacomitrium lanuginosum, which are widely distributed in the alpine tundra. Such communities are found principally on moderately well drained soils having a high Mg/Ca quotients and which are subject to intensive frost heaving. Less well drained soils are colonized by Vaccinium uliginosum-Betula glandulosa and by Scirpus caespitosus communities, which themselves contain fewer serpentinicolous plants. On serpentine, the boundary between alpine tundra and krummholz is at a lower altitude than on other substrates of the region. The ecological position of the serpentinicolous plants and the altitudinal distribution of the vegetation show analogies with other boreal serpentine outcrops.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dép. de Biologie, Université du Québec à Rimovski, 300 allée des Vrsutines, Rimovski Québec, Canada, 45C 3A1

    L. Sirois

  2. Dép. Sciences Forestières Faculté de Foresterie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, 41K 7P4

    M. M. Grandtner

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  1. L. Sirois
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  2. M. M. Grandtner
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B. A. Roberts J. Proctor

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Sirois, L., Grandtner, M.M. (1992). A phyto-ecological investigation of the Mount Albert serpentine plateau. In: Roberts, B.A., Proctor, J. (eds) The Ecology of Areas with Serpentinized Rocks. Geobotany, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3722-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3722-5_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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