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At What Scales and in What Vegetation Types Should We Sample Non-vascular Plants?

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Vegetation Structure and Function at Multiple Spatial, Temporal and Conceptual Scales

Part of the book series: Geobotany Studies ((GEOBOT))

Abstract

Scientists usually avoid sampling non-vascular plants (particularly bryophytes and lichens) for a variety of reasons. However, non-vascular plants often respond differently to the environment than do vascular plants for a range of vegetation types. There is increasing evidence that including them in a sampling programme conveys additional information about the study sites. Such sampling can be important at all scales and in any vegetation type, depending on the subtlety of information sought. Situations which appear likely to benefit from sampling of non-vascular plants are those involving some or all of the following: (1) high-stress environments, (2) relatively long environmental gradients, (3) suspected occurrence of subtle niche-based differences, and (4) need for sensitivity to environmental changes at micro-spatial or temporal scales. Knowledge and use of non-vascular plants in vegetation science will become increasingly important as anthropogenic impacts such as climate change intensify.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Elgene Box for his exemplary patience with recalcitrant authors, to Jessica Beever, Patrick Brownsey, Allison Knight, Rodney Lewington and all others who encourage my dillettantish study of non-vascular plants and assist cheerfully with identifications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Gillian L. Rapson

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  1. Gillian L. Rapson
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Correspondence to Gillian L. Rapson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Elgene Owen Box

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Dedicated to Kazue Fujiwara, a modern representative of that increasingly diminutive taxon, the scholar and gentlewoman.

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Rapson, G.L. (2016). At What Scales and in What Vegetation Types Should We Sample Non-vascular Plants?. In: Box, E. (eds) Vegetation Structure and Function at Multiple Spatial, Temporal and Conceptual Scales. Geobotany Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21452-8_17

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