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Inferences for life history strategies of Artemisia tridentata subspecies
Author(s) -
Bonham C. D.,
Cottrell T. R.,
Mitchell J. E.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.2307/3235925
Subject(s) - subspecies , artemisia , ordination , biology , ecology , geography , botany
Abstract Communities dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis , and A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana , found in the Piceance Basin of western Colorado, were evaluated for life history strategy. Species cover data were analyzed using Grime's (1984) triangular model. Then a canonical analysis was conducted to obtain an ordination of relative species cover. Results from these two analyses were then used to infer strategy differences among life histories of subspecies, based on the respective plant community associates. These differences were found to be consistent with the divergent evolution assumed to have occurred in this species. The primary ordination axis was interpreted as an elevation‐moisture gradient. Further analysis of soil data by factor analysis also separated the three Artemisia subspecies along a soil texture gradient.