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Vegetation of tuscan ultramafic soils in relation to edaphic and physical factors.

Authors :
Chiarucci, Alessandro
Robinson, Brett
Bonini, Ilaria
Petit, Daniel
Brooks, Robert
Dominicis, Vincenzo
Source :
Folia Geobotanica; Jun1998, Vol. 33 Issue 2, p113-131, 19p
Publication Year :
1998

Abstract

Vegetation and soil sampling were carried out in 80 plots located in five different ultramafic (serpentine) sites of Tuscany, central Italy. The physical and chemical features of each plot were determined and the species composition and cover recorded. The exchangeable fraction of soil metals was analysed because it gives a measure of their concentrations available to plants. The plots were classified by cluster analysis and ANOVA was used to compare the environmental variables of the groups of plots. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to detect the principal factors for gradients of species composition within the plant communities. A higher content of exchangeable metals was found under the more evolved and structured plant communities, suggesting that serpentine vegetation of Tuscany is not strongly limited by soil metals, such as chromium, cobalt, nickel and magnesium, typically associated with ultramafic soils. The low nutrient content of the soils and drought stress mainly due to topographical features, appear to have a more significant role in determining the typical scattered vegetation of the Tuscan ultramafics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
12119520
Volume :
33
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Folia Geobotanica
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
49897857
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02913340