Central European pine bogs changing along an altitudinal gradient.

Marek Bastl 1 , Marek Burian 1 , Jan Kučera 1 , Karel Prach 2 1 , Ladislav Rektoris 3 & Milan Štech 1

Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
  2. Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, CZ-379 82 Třeboň, Czech Republic
  3. Administration of the Protected Landscape Area Třeboňsko, Valy 121, CZ-379 01 Třeboň, Czech Republic

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Abstract

Vegetation analyses (phytosociological relevés) of 20 peat bogs arranged along an altitudinal gradient in the southern part of the Czech Republic, Central Europe, revealed relationships between vegetation and environmental gradients. Six of the peat bogs were investigated in detail. The bogs were dominated by Pinus rotundata, a species endemic to Central Europe, and its hybridogenous populations with P. mugo (the hybrid is called P. ×pseudopumilio), with increasing proportions of the latter at higher altitudes. Data were processed using indirect (DCA) and direct (CCA) gradient analyses. Environmental variables (depth of the water table, mean and minimum temperatures, precipitation, pH, conductivity, NH4 and PO4 concentrations, total P, but not total N nor NO3 concentration), as well as biotic characteristics of the sites, such as species composition, and growth form of the dominant pines, were closely correlated with altitude. Woody species, herbs and bryophytes responded to the altitude similarly. Results also indicated the unique characteristics of each bog.

Keywords

altitude, environmental gradients, growth form, mountain pine, Pinus mugo, Pinus ×pseudopumilio, Pinus rotundata, Pinus uncinata

How to cite

Bastl M., Burian M., Kučera J., Prach K., Rektoris L. & Štech M. (2008) Central European pine bogs changing along an altitudinal gradient. – Preslia 80: 349363