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Salt marsh vegetation: Latitudinal gradients in the zonation patterns

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Summary

Zonation patterns of salt marsh vegetation were examined at latitudes ranging from 44°40′N at Halifax, Nova Scotia, to 58°50′N at Churchill, Manitoba. It was found that in all areas examined the landward boundaries of the species' zones were more nearly coincident (i.e., more clustered) than their seaward boundaries. A conspicuous latitudinal trend was found: the clustering of both landward and seaward boundaries increased with increasing latitude. Evidence that between-species competition influences the locations of zone boundaries was also obtained. Possible implications of the results in terms of a relationship between intrapopulation polymorphism and latitude are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. R. D. Routledge

    Present address: Department of Mathematics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    E. C. Pielou & R. D. Routledge

Authors
  1. E. C. Pielou
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  2. R. D. Routledge
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Pielou, E.C., Routledge, R.D. Salt marsh vegetation: Latitudinal gradients in the zonation patterns. Oecologia 24, 311–321 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381137

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381137

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