Studies on lichen-dominated systems. VII. Interaction of the general lichen–heath with edaphic factors

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Larson, Douglas W., Kershaw, Kenneth A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1974
• Subjects: Plant Science; Hudson Bay; Hudson; Raised Beach
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b74-150; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b74-150

The patterns of variation in vegetation and the more apparent environmental parameters within and between the ridges of a recently formed Hudson Bay coastal raised-beach system 1.5 km wide are presented and analyzed using principle-component analysis and correlation coefficients. Previous research in the area did not detect such patterns within the general lichen–heath.There is a marked developmental sequence from the coast inland, involving increases in the soil moisture content and the peat-layer thickness, but variations independent of any age sequence occur on an intraridge basis. Relationships are drawn between these variations and the biomass or cover of nine important species.