Environmental control and spatial structures in peatland vegetation

摘要: Question: What are the relative influences of environment and space in structuring plant composition a peatland complex? Location: Lakkasuo, southern boreal zone, Finland. Method: We used principal coordinates neighbour matrices (PCNM) to model spatial structures complex comprising ombrotrophic minerotrophic, open forested areas. redundancy analyses (RDA) variation partitioning assess chemical variables (peat water characteristics), physical (hydrology, soil properties, shade), as well broad-scale (4350m) medium-scale (100-350m) on vegetation assemblages. Results: identified five different significant patterns circumscribing (1) minerotrophic-ombrotrophic gradient; (2) dry wet minerotrophic areas; (3) shaded (4) open/shaded patches within (5) patches. With environmental variables, we were able 30% variability complex, 13% which was attributable alone. Conclusions: demonstrated that dependence processes more important at broadest scale, found medium scale might reflect finer-scale not investigated here. Spatial autocorrelation appeared be driven by Sphagnum species. Our results emphasize modelling should routinely implemented studies looking species composition, since they significantly increase explained proportion variance.