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Morphological analysis of alpine communities of the north-western Caucasus

  • Species Coexistence in Temperate Grasslands (Proceedings of the Symposium held in Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 27 September–2 October 1993; edited by F. Krahulec, D.E. Goldberg & J.H. Willems)
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Abstract

The species composition of four alpine communities in the north-western Caucasus was subjected to a morphological analysis. The communities are an alpine lichen heath type (ALH), aFestuca varia grassland type (FVG), aGeranium-Hedysarum meadow type (GHM) and a snowbed community (SBC). Eighty-two species were studied, using the following morphological parameters: vegetative mobility, presence of rosettes, architectural model, life form according toRaunkiaer and life form according toSerebryakov. Representation spectra were calculated on the basis of species presence, above-ground phytomass proportion and species frequency. The results show that most alpine species have a low vegetative mobility; a semi-rosette growth form; a sympodial semi-rosette model of shoot formation and that they are characterised by the prevalence of hemicryptophytes. Differences between the four communities were found in the following features: tap-rooted and short-rhizome plants dominate in ALH and, moreover, dense-tussock plants are dominant in the phytomass; short-rhizome (species presence) and dense- tussock plants (phytomass) are dominant in FVG; short-rhizome and loose-tussock plants dominant in GHM; semi-shrub (phytomass basis) and loose-tussock plants are dominant of SBC. Tuberiferous, bulbiferous and monocarpic plants are not important in any of the communities. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A02DO006 00008

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  1. Galina A. Pokarzhevskaya

    Present address: Department of Ecological Botany, Uppsala University, Villavägen 14, S-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden

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  1. Department of Geobotany, Biology Faculty, Moscow State University, 119899, Moskva, Russia

    Galina A. Pokarzhevskaya

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Pokarzhevskaya, G.A. Morphological analysis of alpine communities of the north-western Caucasus. Folia Geobot 30, 197–210 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02812098

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