Change in riparian plant community composition along two rivers in northern Sweden

摘要

Large-scale spatial variation in vascular plant communities at 62 shoreline sites along the Piteauml;lven and Laisauml;lvenndash;Vindelauml;lven (rivers), in northern Sweden, was examined using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). The first four clusters generated for each river were explained by shore substrate and wave and flow action. The Pitealven exhibited a sequence of discrete clusters, whereas along the Laisauml;lvenndash;Vindelauml;lven a high degree of overlap between clusters was found. The results suggest overall ldquo;continua,rdquo; related to climatic gradients, along both rivers with other superimposed discontinuities related mainly to changes in substrate and flow action.