Abstract
-Numerous prairie gradient studies have documented a significant correlation between soil moisture and compositional variation. The Wisconsin prairie gradient studies of J. T. Curtis and the Wisconsin Plant Ecology Laboratory (PEL) are among these and are widely cited. Data for 247 of the original Wisconsin PEL prairies were reordinated with Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DECORANA) ordination. The first axis of the ordination was highly correlated with the original Wisconsin prairie continuum. Sand prairies and wet-mesic prairies from extreme southeastern Wisconsin separated on the second axis. Measures of soil moisture were the highest correlate of the first axis. Latitude and longitude, pH, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, nitrate and ammonium nitrogen were also significant correlates of first or second axes. Discussions of pattern in prairie vegetation should look beyond simple correlations with soil moisture, and careful experimental and descriptive studies of prairie vegetation are still needed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
