North European Approaches to Classification

Environmental patterns and gradients in the vascular plants and bryophytes of eastern Fennoscandian herb-rich forests

“…The forests in the Fennoscandian region are usually composed of a few tree species, each of them able to dominate a wide range of site conditions with different understorey associates (Kuusipalo, 1985). In boreal forests understorey vegetation is more sensitive indicator of the environment than the tree layer (Cajander, 1909(Cajander, , 1926Frey, 1978;Trass and Malmer, 1978;Kuusipalo, 1985). However, vascular plants and bryophytes have different relationships to environmental gradients (Ingerpuu et al, 1998(Ingerpuu et al, , 2001(Ingerpuu et al, , 2003Gould and Walker, 1999).…”

Succession in a South Swedish deciduous wood: A numerical approach

“…Consequently all investigations concerning the field layer have been carried out twice in the same plots, either in spring and following summer or the reverse (see Table 1). Several tests indicated that a combined treatment of the spring and summer aspects would be the most profitable approach (see also Maimer et al 1978). The field layer data from consecutive spring-and summer aspects were therefore lumped together to form a single data set.…”

The genesis of two Picea–Cladina forests in northern Sweden

“…The vegetation in lichen‐rich boreal stands is generally determined by edaphic conditions, climate and successional status (Ahti & Oksanen 1990). Considerable efforts have been made to classify lichen‐rich forests dominated by Pinus (Du Rietz 1921; Malmström 1956; Trass & Malmer 1973; Ebeling 1978; Påhlsson 1994) and to identify the driving factors responsible for the ‘heath degeneration’ of such Pinus–Cladina forests (Wretlind 1931; Tamm 1937; Erlandsson 1953; Ebeling 1978). Although no studies have specifically focused on the genesis of the Picea–Cladina forests in Fennoscandia, they have been considered to develop, under appropriate circumstances, from conifer moss–dwarf shrub forests that occur on coarse soils (Wretlind 1931; Erdtman 1943).…”