Vegetation response to a topographical-soil gradient

Plant cover is an easily discernible, recognisable and labile component of the natural environment that reacts to changes in other components. One of the more important components controlling vegetation cover is the soil, and both vegetation and soil are influenced by topography, amongst other things. As it is in the humus-accumulation horizon of soils that vascular plants have most of their roots, these species are capable of reacting to qualitative and quantitative differences in its composition. The relationship between topography, soil and vegetation were assessed on the basis of three catenal sequences representative of Poland's Wigierski (Lake Wigry) National Park. The aim was to determine if changes in soil along the catenae were reflected in changes in plant community (species richness, species composition, and indicator species). We made use of soil analysis, phytosociological analysis of vegetational structure, and Ellenberg indicator values. Correlations between 23 variables allowed distinguishing 6 statistically-significant groups of variables with main ordinating groups being the percentage shares of species indicating relatively dry, slightly moist soils, the combined shares of these species, altitude above sea level and relative elevation. The first two axes of a Principal Components Analysis were strongly related to soil moisture and elevation (axis 1) and to soil fertility (axis 2). Together, these axes accounted for more than 60% of the variability. Within the forest communities, however, fertility was the most important factor. The three catenae differed most in terms of their species richness and least in soil characteristics. An intermediate place was taken by the weighted Ellenberg's indicator values. The lower sections of catenae were found to have more similarity in terms of soil, vegetation and their interrelationships and patterns than the upper parts.