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Sand dune vegetation on Karmøy, SW Norway
Author(s) -
Lundberg Anders
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
nordic journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1756-1051
pISSN - 0107-055X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-1051.1987.tb00967.x
Subject(s) - climax , edaphic , climax community , vegetation (pathology) , ecology , sand dune stabilization , biology , ecosystem , humus , litter , plant litter , ecological succession , soil water , medicine , pathology
Seven associations and two communities of unspecific syntaxonomic rank are described. Rannunculo‐Catabrosetum is given formal description for the first time, while new definitions and delimitations of Atriplici‐Cakiletum and Gentiano‐Pimpinelletum are suggested. Communities in driftwalls, embryo and yellow dunes are considered natural vegetation, while communities found in fixed dunes and dune meadows are modified by man. Climax vegetation is actually present as rudimentary marginal and scrub communities. Original climax vegetation has been cleared for pastures. These changes have opened new niches in dune ecosystems now occupied by grasses and marginal species. Human activity has also changed the edaphic conditions. Higher content of humus in the sandy soil has given higher base saturation and better exchange capacity than in pure marine sand. This counteracts leaching, and due to absence of heather and other species producing “acidic” litter, accumulation of calcium and other nutrients are dominant trends in soil development.