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Ecological segregation between closely related species in the flooded forests of the upper Rhine plain
Author(s) -
SCHNITZLER ANNIK,
CARBIENER ROLAND,
TRÉMOLIÈRES MICHÈLE
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1992.tb01115.x
Subject(s) - floodplain , ecology , ecological niche , sympatric speciation , habitat , abundance (ecology) , geography , biology
summary In the large European river floodplains, closely related species segregate between habitats within numerous forest communities whose structure and dynamics are shaped by the river and its tributaries. Factors of segregation are mainly geochemistry (lime content and texture), water stress and fluvial dynamics. When sympatric, the closely related species coexist by niche differentiation (life‐form, place in the successional stages, phenology and abundance). We have made a comparative study of the niches of 70 species belonging to 24 genera in the alluvial forest communities of the upper Rhine valley (France), using a descriptive and qualitative approach. Results were compared with the literature on European biogeography. Particular attention was paid to seven woody genera ( Populus, Salix, Ulmus, AInus, Acer, Crataegus and Primus ) and to the behaviour of hybrids along the environmental gradients of the study area.