Succession in coastal barrier island communities over a ten-year period
Gibson DJ, Looney PB, Cousens MI. 1990. Succession in coastal barrier island communities over a ten-year period. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 71(2):165
Four 375 m2 permanent plots were established in 1979/80 on Perdido Key, a coastal barrier island off the northwest Florida coast. A plot was located within each of pioneer beach, marsh, swale and forest communities. The pioneer beach showed the greatest change in plant species composition between 1979 and 1989 (Bray-Curtis similarity between 1979 and 1989 = 8%). The swale community showed a similar pattern to the pioneer beach (similarity between years = 22%). In contrast, the forest and marsh plots exhibited greater stability in composition over the same time period (similarity = 86% and 84%, respectively). These data indicate that plant communities on coastal barrier islands are subject to different rates of compositional change. Appropriate management plans for dune habitats should include provision for the differing dynamics of the various plant communities.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Gibson, David; Looney, Paul; Cousens, Michael
- Units
- GUIS
- Keywords
- Barrier Islands, FL - MS, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key (GUIS), Plant Communities, Plant Studies, Plants, Succession