Comparison of plant community–environment relations in two estuarine marshes of northern British Columbia

Abstract

The Dala and Yakoun estuarine marshes in northern British Columbia were compared to evaluate similarities in species composition, plant communities, and vegetation–environment relationships. The Dala is a fjord-head marsh at the mouth of a glacially fed river with a fresh to brackish salinity regime and a 7-m tidal range. The Yakoun marsh is fed by lowland bog drainage on the Queen Charlotte Islands, has a salt to brackish salinity regime, and a 3-m tidal range. Both marshes contain similar dominant species (Carex lyngbyei, Deschampsia cespitosa, Potentilla pacifica, Triglochin maritimum), but share only about one third of the total (50) vascular species recorded. Four plant community types characterizing three main physiographic zones (low, intermediate, and high) were described at each marsh. Principal component analysis (PCA) of species composition data indicated similarities in general patterns of community organization at both marshes; however, PCA of soil chemical data indicated greater between-marsh differences, especially in intermediate and high zones. Canonical correlation analysis indicated that the Yakoun shows a closer connection between overall vegetation variation and substratum elevation, and a clearer elevational zonation of communities than the Dala. Examination of tidal regime data indicated that the Yakoun experiences steeper gradients in submergence time and flooding frequency than the Dala, thus offering an explanation for the different vegetation–elevation relationships.