Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Correspondence analysis of functional groups in a riparian landscape

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We used multivariate analysis and ordinations to characterize thecomposition and distribution of woody vegetation within the Ozark NationalScenic Riverways (ONSR), Missouri, USA. The objectives of the study were to: 1)evaluate patterns of woody species distributions along existing environmentalgradients; 2) determine if different classes of woody plants (i.e., dominantoverstory trees, all trees, understory trees, and shrubs) responded similarlytothe same suite of environmental variables; and 3) determine if discreteecotonaland/or ecoclinal vegetation patterns were present across the landscape. Woodyvegetation was sampled from 94 plots along 35 transects positioned at rightangles to the river channel. Sample plots were analyzed with DetrendedCorrespondence Analysis (DCA), Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), andTWINSPAN. Overall, woody vegetation was correlated with several environmentalgradients, including elevation of the plot above the river, soil pH, soilmoisture, and soil particle size. Responses to secondary gradients differedamong the four classes of plants analyzed, however. CCA biplots of understorytrees indicated that patterns of those species were strongly correlated withslope through the plot and sand content of soil. CCA biplots of shrubs showedthat CCA axes were most strongly correlated with soil organic matter content,soil moisture, and silt content. Further, there was limited evidence fordiscrete assemblages of woody species, with the exception of streamsidevegetation. Instead, mixing of woody species was observed across a broadtransition zone. Because there is little correspondence between vegetationlayers, our results demonstrate including plant classes other than a subset ofcanopy dominant trees can provide additional resolution in characterizingvegetation responses along complex environmental gradients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Austin M.P. 1985. Continuum concept, ordination methods, and niche theory. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 16: 39-61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin M.P. 1990. Community theory and competition in vegetation. In: Grace J.B. and Tilman D. (eds), Perspectives on plant competition. Academic Press, New York, New York, pp. 215- 238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Autry D.D. 1988. Plant communities on riparian limestone bluffs in Ozark National Scenic Riverways. PhD Dissertation, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey R.G. 1984. Testing an ecosystem regionalization. Journal of Environmental Management 19: 239-248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey R.G., Jensen M.E., Cleland D.T. and Bourgeron P.S. 1994. Design and use of ecological mapping units. In: Jensen M.E. and Bourgeron P.S. (eds), Ecosystem management: principles and applications. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, Oregon, pp. 95-106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker W.L. 1989. Macro-and micro-scale influences on riparian vegetation in western Colorado. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 79: 65-78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazzaz F.A. 1979. The physiological ecology of plant succession. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 10: 351-371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bendix J. 1994. Scale, direction, and pattern in riparian vegetationenvironment relationships. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 84: 652-665.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bormann F.H. 1953. The statistical efficiency of sample plot size and shape in forest ecology. Ecology 34: 474-487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouyoucos G.J. 1951. A recalibration of the hydrometer method for making mechanical analysis of soils. Agronomy Journal 43: 434-438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Branson E.B. 1944. The Geology of Missouri. University of Missouri Studies XIX, Columbia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bratton S.P., Hapeman J.R. and Mast A.R. 1994. The lower Susquehanna River Gorge and floodplain (U.S.A.) as a riparian refugium for vernal, forest-floor herbs. Conservation Biology 8: 1069-1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun E.L. 1950. Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America. Blakiston Company, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassel D.K. and Nielsen D.R. 1986. Field capacity and available water capacity. In: Klute A. (ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 1. Physical and mineralogical methods. Agronomy Monograph no. 9. 2nd edn. American Society of Agronomy-Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 198-223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin F.S. 1993. Functional role of growth forms in ecosystem and global processes. In: Ehleringer J.R. and Field C.B. (eds), Scaling physiological processes. Academic Press, New York, New York, pp. 287-312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins S.L., Riser P.G. and Rice E.L. 1981. Ordination and classification of mature bottomland forests in north central Oklahoma. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 108: 152-165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins K.W., Wilzbach M.A., Gates D.M., Perry J.B. and Taliaferro W.B. 1989. Shredders and riparian vegetation. BioScience 39: 24-30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutter B.E. and Guyette R.P. 1994. Fire frequency on an oakhickory ridgetop in the Missouri Ozarks. The American Midland Naturalist 132: 393-398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale M.B. 1995. Evaluating classification strategies. Journal of Vegetation Science 6: 437-440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daubenmire R.F. 1959. A canopy-coverage method of vegetation analysis. Northwest Scientist 33: 46-66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollar K.E., Pallardy S.G. and Garrett H.G. 1992. Composition and environment of floodplain forests of northern Missouri. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 22: 1343-1350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn C.P. and Stearns F. 1987. Relationship of vegetation layers to soils in southeastern Wisconsin forested wetlands. The American Midland Naturalist 118: 366-374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyre F.H. 1980. Forest Cover Types of The United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington. Fenneman N.M. 1938. Physiography of The Eastern United States. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon D. and Bradfield G.E. 1987. Relationships among forest strata and environment in southern coastal British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16: 1264-1271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilliam F.S., Turrill N.L. and Adams M.B. 1995. Herbaceous-layer and overstory species in clear-cut and mature central Appalachian hardwood forests. Ecological Applications 5: 947-955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleason H.A. 1926. The individualistic concept of the plant association. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 53: 1-20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray J.R. and Eddington J.M. 1969. Effect of woodland clearance on stream temperature. Journal of Fisheries Research Canada 26: 399-403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime J.P. 1979. Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes. John Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime J.P. 1993. Vegetation functional classification systems as approaches to predicting and quantifying global vegetation change. In: Solomon A.M. and Shugart H.H. (eds), Vegetation dynamics and global change. Chapman and Hall, New York, New York, pp. 293-305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen A.J. and Di Castri F. 1992. Landscape Boundaries. Ecological Studies 92. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin E.D. and Wistendahl W.A. 1983. The effects of floodplain trees on herbaceous vegetation patterns, microtopography and litter. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 110: 23-30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin E.D., Lewis K.P. and Wistendahl W.A. 1989. Gradient analysis of floodplain forests along three rivers in unglaciated Ohio. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 116: 258-264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill M.O. 1979. TWINSPAN - a Fortran Program for Arranging Multivariate Data in an Ordered Two-way Table by Classification of The Individuals and Attributes. Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs E.R. 1986. Characterizing the boundary between California annual grassland and Coastal sage scrub with differential pro-files. Vegetatio 65: 115-126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hupp C.R. 1992. Riparian vegetation recovery following stream channelization: a geomorphic perspective. Ecology 73: 1209-1226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson R.B. and Primm A.T. 1994. Historical land-use changes and potential effects on stream disturbances in the Ozark Plateaus, Missouri. United States Geological Service Report 94-333., Rolla, Missouri.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis P.G. 1995. Scaling processes and problems. Plant, Cell and Environment 18: 1079-1089.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen M., McNicoll C. and Prather M. 1991. Application of ecological classification to environmental effects analysis. Journal of Environmental Quality 20: 24-30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston C.A., Pastor J. and Pinay G. 1992. Quantitative methods for studying landscape boundaries. In: Hansen A.J. and di Castri F. (eds), Landscape Boundaries. Ecological Studies 92. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York, pp. 107-125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongman R.H.G., ter Braak C.J.F. and van Tongeren O.F.R. 1995.Data Analysis in Community and Landscape Ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Körner C. 1994. Scaling from species to vegetation: the usefulness of functional groups. In: Shulze E.D. and Mooney H.A. (eds), Biodiversity and ecosystem function. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York, pp. 117-140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim C.H. and Jackson M.L. 1982. Dissolution for total elemental analysis. In: Page A.L. (ed.), Methods of soils analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Agronomy Series no. 9. 2nd edn. American Society of Agronomy-Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 1238-1252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippmaa T. 1939. The unistratal concept of plant communities (the unions). The American Midland Naturalist 21: 111-143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyon J. and Sagers C.L. 1998. Structure of herbaceous plant assemblages in a forested riparian landscape. Plant Ecology 138: 1-16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malanson G.P. and Butler D.R. 1991. Floristic variation among gravel bars in a subalpine river, Montana, USA. Arctic and Alpine Research 23: 273-278.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCune B. and Antos J.A. 1981. Correlations between forest layers in the Swan Valley, Montana. Ecology 62: 1196-1204.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCune B. and Mefford M.J. 1995. PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data, Version 2.0. MjM Software Design, Gleneden Beach.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenney R., Jacobson R.B. and Wertheimer R.C. 1995. Woody vegetation and channel morphogenesis in low-gradient, gravelbed streams in the Ozark Plateaus, Missouri and Arkansas. Geomorphology 13: 175-198.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLean E.O. 1982. Soil pH and lime requirement. In: Page A.L. (ed.), Methods of soils analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy Series No. 9. 2nd edn. American Society of Agronomists, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 97-119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minitab 1991. Minitab Reference Manual. Minitab Inc. Data Tech Industries, Valley Forge, Release 8.2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller-Dombois D. and Ellenberg H. 1974. Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naiman R.J. and Décamps H. 1990. The Ecology and Management of Aquatic-terrestrial Ecotones. United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nigh T.A., Pallardy S.G. and Garrett H.E. 1985. Sugar maple-environment relationships in the river hills and central Ozark Mountains of Missouri. The American Midland Naturalist 98: 469-476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson C., Grelsson G., Johansson M. and Sperens U. 1989. Patterns of plant species richness along riverbanks. Ecology 70: 77-84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson C., Ekblad A., Dynesius M., Backe S., Gardfjell M., Carlberg B. et al. 1994. A comparison of species richness and traits of riparian plants between a main river channel and its tributaries. Journal of Ecology 82: 281-295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble I.R., Moore A.D. and Strasser M.J. 1988. Predicting vegetation dynamics based on structural and functional attributes. In: Proceedings International symposium on vegetation structure., Utrecht.

  • O'Neill R.V., DeAngelis D.L., Waide J.B. and Allen T.F.H. 1986. A Hierarchical Concept of Ecosystems. Monographs in Population Biology 23. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne L.L. and Kovacic D.A. 1993. Riparian vegetated buffer strips in water-quality restoration and stream management. Freshwater Biology 29: 243-258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pallardy S.G., Nigh T.A. and Garrett H.E. 1988. Changes in forest composition in central Missouri: 1968-1982. The American Midland Naturalist 120: 380-390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Planty-Tabacchi A., Tabacchi E., Naiman R.J., Deferrari C. and Décamps H. 1996. Invasibility of species-rich communities in riparian zones. Conservation Biology 10: 598-607.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raunkiaer C. 1934. The Life-forms of Plants and Statistical Plant Geography. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson M.D., MacKenzie P.A. and Elliott L.F. 1984. Gradient analysis and classification of the woody vegetation for four sites in southern Illinois and adjacent Missouri. Vegetatio 58: 87-104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rochow J.J. 1972. A vegetational description of a mid-Missouri forest using gradient analysis techniques. The American Midland Naturalist 87: 377-398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagers C.L. and Lyon J. 1997. Gradient analysis in a riparian landscape: contrasts among forest layers. Forest Ecology and Management 96: 13-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharitz R.R., Boring L.R., Van Lear D.H. and Pinder J.E. 1992. Integrating ecological concepts with natural resource management of southern forests. Ecological Applications 2: 226-237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff D. and Cox J. 1987. Consequences and costs of conservation corridors. Conservation Biology 1: 63-71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slocombe D.S. 1993. Implementing ecosystem-based management. BioScience 43: 612-622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith T. and Huston M. 1989. A theory of the spatial and temporal dynamics of plant communities. Vegetatio 83: 49-69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith T.M., Shugart H.H., Woodward F.I. and Burton P.J. 1993.Plant functional groups. In: Solomon A.M. and Shugart H.H. (eds), Vegetation Dynamics and Global Change. Chapman & Hall, New York, New York, pp. 272-292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon A.M. and Shugart H.H. 1993. Vegetation Dynamics and Global Change. Chapman and Hall, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks R.E. 1995. Need for ecosystem management of large rivers and their floodplains. BioScience 45: 168-182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steyermark J.A. 1959. Vegetational History of The Ozark Forest. University of Missouri Studies, Columbia, Missouri.

    Google Scholar 

  • ter Braak C.J.F. 1990. CANOCO - a Fortran program for canonical community ordination. Microcomputer Power, Ithaca, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas J.W. 1996. Forest service perspective on ecosystem management. Ecological Applications 6: 703-705.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vineyard J.D. 1969. Geological report on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. National Park Service Report. Office of Natural Science Studies, Rolla, Missouri.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vineyard J.D. and Feder G.L. 1974. Springs of Missouri. In: Pflieger W.L. and Lipscomb R.G. (eds), Water Resources Report 29. Missouri Division of Geology and Land Survey, Rolla, Missouri, pp. 6-9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vought L.B.M., Dahl J., Pedersen C.L. and Lacoursiere J.O. 1994.Nutrient retention in riparian ecotones. Ambio 23: 342-348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware S., Redfearn P.L., Pyrah G.L. and Weber W.R. 1992. Soil pH, topography, and forest vegetation in the central Ozarks. The American Midland Naturalist 128: 40-52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker R.H. 1956. Vegetation of the Great Smoky Mountains. Ecological Monographs 26: 1-80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker R.H. 1967. Gradient analysis of vegetation. Biological Review 42: 207-264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker R.H. 1978. Ordination of Plant Communities. Junk, The Hague.

  • Wiens J.A., Crawford C.S. and Gosz J.R. 1985. Boundary dynamics: a conceptual framework for studying landscape ecosystems. Oikos 45: 421-427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witherspoon J.T. 1971. Plant succession on gravel bars along the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in the Southcentral Missouri Ozarks. M.S., Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman M. and Wagner W.L. 1979. A description of the woody vegetation of oak-hickory forest in the Northern Ozark Highlands. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 106: 117-122.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 72701, USA

    Jonathan Lyon, Cynthia L. Sagers & Cynthia L. Sagers

Authors
  1. Jonathan Lyon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cynthia L. Sagers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cynthia L. Sagers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lyon, J., Sagers, C.L. Correspondence analysis of functional groups in a riparian landscape. Plant Ecology 164, 171–183 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021225819446

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021225819446

Search

Navigation