Modelling oldfield species richness in a mountain area

This paper is an attempt, using statistical modelling techniques, to understand the patterns of vascular plant species richness in mountain pastures ensuing from agriculture abandonment. Species richness was measured in 10 x 10 m plots and the explanatory factors used in the models were physical var...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant ecology 2003-01, Vol.166 (2), p.249-261
Main Authors: Gutierrez Teira, A, Peco, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
abandoned land
agricultural land
air temperature
Climate models
Drainage basins
Environmental conservation
environmental factors
Flowers & plants
Generalized linear models
grazing
Landscapes
livestock
montane forests
mountains
pasture plants
pastures
Plant ecology
Plants
Rain
slope
soil erosion
solar radiation
Species
Species diversity
statistical models
topography
Vegetation
water resources
Watercourses
watersheds
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Summary:This paper is an attempt, using statistical modelling techniques, to understand the patterns of vascular plant species richness in mountain pastures ensuing from agriculture abandonment. Species richness was measured in 10 x 10 m plots and the explanatory factors used in the models were physical variables calculated from a digital terrain model (DTM) and vegetation, lithology, and administrative regions maps all constructed in a 100 m-resolution GIS environment. Poisson regressions, a particular type of GLM (generalized linear models), were used to construct the models using a forward stepwise procedure. The resulting model included three topo-ecological variables derived from the DTM (mean annual rainfall, specific catchment area and distance from the nearest watercourse) and accounted for 70% of the total variability. Maximum species richness occurred at intermediate rainfall levels, at topographic positions with relatively little drainage or in areas distant from watercourses. The model is discussed in the context of current theories on species richness.
ISSN:1385-0237
1573-5052
DOI:10.1023/A:1023200517564