The Association Analysis of a Lichen Dominated Raised Beach System in Subarctic Ontario

Abstract

<p>A modified version of the Braun-Blanquet technique for the analysis of plant associations was applied to an area of lichen dominated raised beach system at Cape Henrietta Maria in subarctic Ontario. Eleven such associations were extracted on this basis. Subsequently the data was subjected to principal components ordination methods from which it was concluded that the number of associations be reduced to nine. With the aid of multiple regression trend surface analysis a number of hypotheses concerning the ecological factors underlying the distribution of vegetation in the area were suggested, namely, that the associations are controlled by gradients of pH, the thickness of the underlying peaty substratum, and the distribution of late snow lie zones.</p>