Relationship between plant life forms and ecological indices in a lacustrine ecosystem

Abstract

This study is the first to analyze the relationship between ecological indices (substrate moisture, nutrient content, substrate dispersion/aeration, substrate pH and humus content) and life forms of the vascular flora in and around Lake Provala; these relationships may serve as reliable indicators of the ecological conditions prevailing in this ecosystem. Since the development of certain life forms, in addition to climatic conditions, depends on plant requirements for several major environmental factors expressed as ecological indices, we established the relationship between the ecological index and life form of vascular plants collected over an eight year period in this system using correspondence analysis. We found a significant correlation between the development of certain life forms and levels of substrate moisture, nutrient content and substrate dispersion/aeration. These relationships help explain the predominance of hemicryptophytes and hydro-helophytes in the riparian zone of the lake, as these forms are perfectly adapted to water-saturated or aquatic environments rich in nutrients and relatively well aerated. There was no significant relationship between life forms and substrate pH or the content of organo-mineral compounds (humus) in the soil.