Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Description:
Bryological composition, water chemistry, and environmental factors were characterized on 67 Belgian travertines. We explore the relationship between these environmental factors and the community composition, species richness, or presence of individual species using Redundancy Analysis with Hellinger’s transformation (tb-RDA) or Generalized Linear Models (GLMs). The best variables explaining the community composition are slope, NO3, NH4, and PO4. The species richness is negatively related to canopy cover and PO4.Palustriella commutatatends to be more frequent when the slope is steeper and to a lesser degree when the canopy cover is lower.Eucladium verticillatumtends to be slightly more frequent when canopy cover and NH4concentrations are lower.Cratoneuron filicinumis more frequent at higher Mg concentrations andPellia endiviifoliais more frequent at lower PO4concentrations and higher NO3concentrations.Brachythecium rivulareshowed wide ecological amplitude and almost none of the tested environmental factors seem to be related to its presence. The study identifies eutrophication as the main factor responsible for habitat deterioration. Practical indications on the best ways to maintain or to enhance the quality of these petrifying sources are given.
Print ISSN:
1687-8159
Electronic ISSN:
1687-8167
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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