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Analysis of the plant communities of a heathland site: Aylesbeare common, Devon, England

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Summary

Species presence-absence data from an area of heath and related vegetation near Exeter, England, have been analysed using association-analysis, information-analysis and group analysis. The results of the three methods showed substantial agreement; of the three, association-analysis appeared to be the most useful. Of the vegetation types within the area, the dry heath (Calluno-Ulicetalia) and the Pteridium and scrub communitics (Rhamno-Prunetea) are rather sharply delimited. The remaining communities intergrade, but may be divided into wet heath and shallow Sphagnum bog (Ericion tetralicis), calcarcous Schoenus nigricans flushes (Eriophorion latifolii) and a very variable Molinietum (Molinion caeruleae).

Zusammenfassung

Angaben über Vorkommen bzw. Abwesenheit von Arten in Probeflächen innerhalb eines Heidegebiet bei Exeter, England, wurden mit Hilfe von Assoziations-Analyse, Informations-Analyse und Gruppen-Analyse bearbeitet.

Die Ergebnisse der drei Methoden zeigten eine wesentliche Übereinstimmung. Assoziations-Analyse ergab sich als die meist effektive Methode. Die trockene Heide (Calluno-Ulicetalia) und die Pteridium- und Gebüschgesellschaften (Rhamno-Prunetea) sind ziemlich scharf zu begrenzen. Die übrigen Gesellschaften sind schwer von einander zu trennen. Jedoch lassen sich unterscheiden: feuchte Heide und flaches Sphagnum-Moor (Ericion tetralicis), kalkreicher Schoenus nigricans-Sumpf (Eriophorion latifolii) und sehr variabeles Molinietum (Molinion caeruleae).

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We should like to thank Clinton Devon Estates for permission to work on Aylesbeare Common, and Dr. D. L. Wigston for help in surveying the contour map of the site.

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Ivimey-Cook, R.B., Proctor, M.C.F. & Rowland, D.M. Analysis of the plant communities of a heathland site: Aylesbeare common, Devon, England. Vegetatio 31, 33–45 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00127873

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