Abstract
Transects of contiguous one square meter quadrats were sampled across the marl and peat mosaic of the Byron-Bergen swamp, a rich fen in western New York. The data were analyzed by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA).
Ordination of species and samples produced arrangements reflecting a complex environmental gradient of hydrology, soil organic matter and soil carbonate-carbon concentration. They successfully separated fens underlain with peat from those underlain with marl and showed a physiognomic gradient associated with hummock development.
This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant DEB-7809340 to R. H. Whittaker, especially an amendment to support John M. Bernard under NSF Support for Small College Faculty through Grants at Large Institutions program.
The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society, Inc. allowed us to sample on their property.
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Vascular plant nomenclature follows Fernald (1950). Bryophyte nomenclature follows Crum & Anderson (1981).
Two decades of research in ordination and classification by Robert Whittaker was seen by him as a prelude to the study of pattern within communities. We acknowledge Whittaker's leadership in this field, and his contribution to the research presented here.
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Bernard, J.M., Seischab, F.K. & Gauch, H.G. Gradient analysis of the vegetation of the Byron-Bergen swamp, a rich fen in western New York. Vegetatio 53, 85–91 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043026