Distributional patterns of vascular plants in Fennoscandia: a numerical approach

Abstract

The distribution of 725 species and 4 subspecies of vascular plants in 522 grid squares of 50×50 km within Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden was analysed by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and two‐way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). Two phytogeographical gradients were recognized: a major gradient running both latitudinally and altitudinally, from southern and lowland areas to northern and mountain districts, and from southerly distributed species to alpine and northerly distributed species, and a secondary gradient running from eastern districts and easterly distributed species to western districts and westerly distributed species. The results are in agreement with previous recognized phytogeographical patterns within the considered area. Possible ecological and historical causes for these patterns are briefly discussed.

Spatial and environmental components of variation in the distribution patterns of subarctic plant species at Kevo, N Finland - a case study at the meso-scale level

“…Pedersen 1989, Hill 1991, Myklestad 1993, Myklestad and Birks 1993, a prominent L a w W Fig. Pedersen 1989, Hill 1991, Myklestad 1993, Myklestad and Birks 1993, a prominent L a w W Fig.…”

“…Numerical analyses designed to detect common patterns of distribution should ideally encompass many different levels of resolution in sample size (see Hengeveld 1987. Pedersen 1989, Myklestad 1993, Myklestad and Birks 1993 or animals (e.g. so as to estimate how well results at one particular scale can be generalised to other scales.…”

Guilds, Functional Types and Ecological Groups

“…Such guilds are groups of species with a similar spatial/evolutionary and dispersal history, and quite possibly similar ecology, the 'faunal types' of Raivio (1989) and the 'floristic elements' of McLaughlin (1994). Rigorous examples of this approach are the work of Myklestad (1993) and Myklestad and Birks (1993), using numerical classification and ordination to form floristic elements among Salix species from data on their distribution across Europe, and of Pedersen (1990), using this approach for vascular plants in Scandinavia, for example identifying a southern group of species and a coastal group. Some guilds would have a narrow range (e.g.…”

Biogeographical outline of epiphytic lichens in a Mediterranean area: Calabria (S Italy)

“…Hultén (1937) was the first to produce maps showing the joint distribution of plants with similar ecology, in order to identify refugial areas during the glacial period. In the last decades, since the works by Proctor (1967), Jardine (1972), and Birks (1976), an operationalquantitative approach in the analysis of phytogeographical data has been adopted by several authors (Birks 1987;Pedersen 1990; distribution of taxa depends on both present and past ecological conditions. In the last decades, since the works by Proctor (1967), Jardine (1972), and Birks (1976), an operationalquantitative approach in the analysis of phytogeographical data has been adopted by several authors (Birks 1987;Pedersen 1990; distribution of taxa depends on both present and past ecological conditions.…”