Edaphic and phytosociological factors influencing moss species occurrence in a northern hardwood forest

摘要

We present an analysis of edaphic and phytosociological factors controlling the distribution of 36 moss species found in a northern hardwood forest. The soil chemistry, soil physical measurements, tree importance values and plot understory percent cover were analyzed for 153 plots (m(3)) located along a 1.8 km transect in Glenmeal State Forest, Pierrepont NY. Relationships between edaphic and phytosociological factors and species presence and absence were evaluated with non-metric multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis and Kruskall-Wallis tests. Soil depth, calcium, manganese, pH, CEC, light intensity, occurrence of Acer saccharum Marshall, Fraxinus americana L., Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere, and Quercus rubra L. percent living cover, percent graminoid, and percent tree cover were observed to exert the strongest influence on species presence and absence and species assemblages. Based on their responses to environmental variables the 36 moss species can be segregated into four groups defined primarily by soil calcium, potassium, CEC, moisture, and organic matter.