Pattern and process in Norwegian upland grasslands: a functional analysis

Abstract

Abstract Four classes of functional and morphological plant traits – established strategies (the CSR scheme sensu Grime 1979), life‐forms (sensu Raunkiaer 1934), morphology, and regenerative strategies – are used as tools for explaining vegetation gradients at summer farms in the mountains of western Norway. These farms are assembly points for free‐ranging domestic grazers, and differ floristically and ecologically from the surrounding heath or woodland vegetation. DCA and TWINSPAN are used to relate major gradients in a floristic data set from 12 summer farms to two sets of explanatory variables: (1) environmental variables representing physical factors, plot position, soils, and land use, and (2) the 4 classification schemes. The main floristic gradient parallels a spatial gradient from the centres of the farms to the surrounding vegetation. A functional interpretation based on the concurrent use of the 2 sets of explanatory variables suggests that the gradient is one of decreasing disturbance and incre...