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Environmental factors influencing the distribution of two Atlantic Batrachium (Ranunculaceae)
Author(s) -
Molina José Antonio
Publication year - 2004
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.1756-1051.2004.tb01642.x
Subject(s) - habitat , canonical correspondence analysis , ranunculaceae , ecology , taxon , biology , ecological niche , vegetation (pathology) , distribution (mathematics) , mathematical analysis , mathematics , pathology , medicine
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that climate largely influences the distribution pattern of semi‐terrestrial plants which form part of aquatic habitats where the climatic influence is supposed to be mitigated. The study focused on R. hederaceus and R. omiophyllus , two Atlantic plants morphologically very alike and occupying similar niches. Based on a study of the literature, their Iberian distribution patterns and the habitats they characterise were discussed. R. hederaceus and R. omiophyllus vegetation were related with climatical data by means of Canonical Correspondence Analysis. This emphasized the effect of continentality in the distribution of both taxa. There is a clear preference of R. omiophyllus plant‐communities for less continental and more humid climates. In contrast, R. hederaceus seems better adapted to more continental and drier climates. This fact helps to explain their Iberian geographical segregation: R. omiophyllus reaches a high density distribution in less continental and western areas, while R. hederaceus is more common in more inland and central areas.