Abstract
The relationship between elevation and the natural occurrence of several species of emergent vascular plants was examined in a microtidal deltaic marsh system near Corpus Christi, on the southwestern Texas coast. Vegetation percent cover was estimated quarterly from November 2003 to November 2006 in 374 permanent plots located in 9 sites. Soil elevation was measured in each plot using sub-centimeter real-time kinematic GPS. Cluster analyses determined that there were two significantly (P < 0.05) different sets of co-occurring species, one comprising Borrichia frutescens, Salicornia virginica and Distichlis spicata and the other including Batis maritima, Salicornia bigelovii and Lycium carolinianum. Analysis of species groupings across an elevation gradient using non-metric multi-dimensional scaling and hierarchal cluster analysis indicated that these assemblages represent a low marsh assemblage (25–50 cm NAVD88) and a high marsh assemblage (50–65 cm NAVD88), respectively. The strong relationship between elevation and species distribution suggests that abiotic factors play a key role in determining plant distribution in this ecosystem, and indicate that even apparently small differences in elevation can be important in a microtidal system.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
