Community and edaphic analysis of upland northern hardwood communities, central Vermont, USA

Abstract

An ecological multifactor approach was used to identify and describe upland northern hardwood site types and species groups on the central Green Mountains, Vermont. Seven ecological types and ten species groups were identified by a method combining plot sampling of vegetative and soil-site variables and numerical analysis. Two-way indicator species analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to evaluate the distinctness of the identified ecological types and species groups and to compare the discriminating abilities of different ecosystem components (landscape position, vegetation, and soil). Each ecological type was a characteristic combination of physiography, landscape position, soil, and vegetation. Descriptions of the relationships of species groups to gradients of soil moisture and fertility, inferred from landscape position and substrate are presented. CCA demonstrated that most species within defined groups had similar ecological responses. Few groups occurred in only one ecological type. In all cases evaluation of topographic and soil factors in conjunction with species groups facilitated identification of ecological types.