Table 4 Spatial interactions between plant community type (PCT, n = 4) and meadow gradient class (MGC, n = 2) within subalpine meadows sampled (n = 5) that were significant based on ANOVA (n = 252 for all variables). Rows display relative ranking of values for that variable for each PCT that were contingent on MGC. Plant abbreviations and wetland status: CV Carex vesiciaria (obligate), DC Deschampsia cespitosa (facultative-wetland), CM Calamagrostis muiriana (facultative), SK Stipa kingii (facultative-upland). Acronyms and abbreviations: SR soil resistance, BD bulk density, VWC volumetric water content, CF coarse fragment content in two size classes (2–4 mm and > 4 mm), TVC total vegetation cover determined in 1 m2 plots (1 m2), RMAD root mass areal density, Roots % root content
Spatial interactions between meadow gradient class (MGC) and plant community types (PCTs) | ||
|---|---|---|
Variables | MGC: low gradient (< 2% slope) | MGC: middle gradient (2–4% slope) |
PCTs | PCTs | |
SR (kPa) | CV<SK<CM, DC<SK<CV | CV<DC<CM, CM<SK |
BD (Mg/m3) | CV<SK<CM, CV<DC<SK | CV<DC<CM, CM<SK |
VWC (%) | SK<CM<DC, SK<CM<CV | SK<CM<DC<CV, SK<CM |
CF 2–4 mm (%) | CV<SK<CM, CV<SK<DC | DC<CV<CM, CM>SK |
CF > 4 mm (%) | CM<SK<CV, DC<SK<CV | CV<CM<DC, CM<SK |
TVC (1 m2 ) | CV<SK<CM, CV<SK<DC | CV<CM<DC, CM<SK |
RMAD (kg/m2) | CM<CV<SK, DC<SK<CV | DC<CM<CV, CM<SK |
Roots (%) | CM<SK<DC, DC<SK<CV | CM<DC<CV, CM<SK |