Vascular and Nonvascular vegetation of Aniakchak Caldera, Alaska.
Hasselbach LM. 1995. Vascular and Nonvascular vegetation of Aniakchak Caldera, Alaska.. NPS/PNROSU/NRTR-95/05//. National Park Service. Seatle, WA
Vascular and nonvascular vegetation was sampled on 52 plots representing the widest possible range of geomorphic variation in Aniakchak caldera, Alaska. Data from these plots were analyzed to detect vegetation patterns with respect to environmental gradients. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed proximity to water as the primary environmental gradient. Plant communities were related to presence of rock (i.e. lava flows, basalt outcrops) as the secondary gradient, and to steepness of slope as the tertiary. Seven vegetation groups were identified with cluster analysis. Discriminant analysis was then used to identify the distinguishing ecological factors and characteristic species associated with each group. A list of 348 vascular and nonvascular species, including habitat reference information, is presented. Successional processes following the 1931 eruption were discussed with respect to substrate type, nutrient levels and dominance patterns. The abundance of nitrogen-fixing taxa, which accounted for 73% of the total lichen cover, was discussed with regard to their potential role as facilitators of primary succession.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Hasselbach, Linda
- Date of Issue
- 1995-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ANIA
- Keywords
- Anaikchak National Monument and Preserve AK, Aniakchak, Aniakchak Caldera, Caldera, IAR, nonvascular, Plant Communities, Plant Studies, Plants, Vascular, Vegetation, vegitation