Fine-scale hydrological niche segregation in coastal dune slacks
(2021) In Journal of Vegetation Science 32(5).- Abstract
Questions: Hydrological niche segregation is widespread and has been found across a range of different habitats. Different plant species can occupy distinct hydrological niches, and as a result fine-scale variability in hydrology can structure plant communities. However, these patterns may not be as clear in habitats where differences in hydrology are more short-lived, such as coastal dune slacks. We explored the extent that the hydrological regime structures dune slack plant communities. Location: Ainsdale Coastal Sand Dune National Nature Reserve, UK. Methods: Six hundred quadrats were surveyed, 100 in each of six coastal dune slacks. Water table levels are recorded monthly in each slack. Metrics summarising hydrological regime were... (More)
Questions: Hydrological niche segregation is widespread and has been found across a range of different habitats. Different plant species can occupy distinct hydrological niches, and as a result fine-scale variability in hydrology can structure plant communities. However, these patterns may not be as clear in habitats where differences in hydrology are more short-lived, such as coastal dune slacks. We explored the extent that the hydrological regime structures dune slack plant communities. Location: Ainsdale Coastal Sand Dune National Nature Reserve, UK. Methods: Six hundred quadrats were surveyed, 100 in each of six coastal dune slacks. Water table levels are recorded monthly in each slack. Metrics summarising hydrological regime were calculated and adjusted for each quadrat based on elevation. We tested the relationship between water table depth, plant communities and topography across and within dune slacks. Results: Half (three) of the slacks showed a significant influence of hydrology on plant community composition. The three that did not were the ones that varied least topographically and contained less diverse plant communities. We also provide indirect evidence of niche segregation by modelling species-specific responses between mean water table depth and probability of species presence. Conclusions: We demonstrate that hydrology is a dominant driver of plant community composition across dune slacks. However, plant communities are not always structured by hydrology, demonstrating the complexity of vegetation patterns. Topographic variation appears to impact plant community patterns, as do successional processes, highlighting the need to create diverse habitats for slack restoration and management.
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- author
- Dwyer, Ciara LU ; Pakeman, Robin J. ; Jones, Laurence ; van Willegen, Lisanne ; Hunt, Natalie and Millett, Jonathan
- publishing date
- 2021-09-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- coastal wetlands, dune slack, hydrology, microtopography, niche segregation, sand dunes, succession, topography
- in
- Journal of Vegetation Science
- volume
- 32
- issue
- 5
- article number
- e13085
- pages
- 13 pages
- publisher
- International Association of Vegetation Science
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85117913716
- ISSN
- 1100-9233
- DOI
- 10.1111/jvs.13085
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Funding Information: This research would not have been possible without Ainsdale NNR?s Senior Reserve Manager, David Mercer and the assistance of Reserve Managers Barry Smith, Peter Gahan and Tony Meadow. We would like to thank landowners Natural England. Many thanks to the three anonymous referees. This research was possible due to PhD funding to CD from UK Research and Innovation via the Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA). Publisher Copyright: Journal of Vegetation Science© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Vegetation Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association for Vegetation Science.
- id
- 9e9a8b75-9cff-4da5-8ba4-98bec7dd7703
- date added to LUP
- 2022-02-07 10:28:02
- date last changed
- 2022-04-25 03:36:13
@article{9e9a8b75-9cff-4da5-8ba4-98bec7dd7703,
abstract = {{<p>Questions: Hydrological niche segregation is widespread and has been found across a range of different habitats. Different plant species can occupy distinct hydrological niches, and as a result fine-scale variability in hydrology can structure plant communities. However, these patterns may not be as clear in habitats where differences in hydrology are more short-lived, such as coastal dune slacks. We explored the extent that the hydrological regime structures dune slack plant communities. Location: Ainsdale Coastal Sand Dune National Nature Reserve, UK. Methods: Six hundred quadrats were surveyed, 100 in each of six coastal dune slacks. Water table levels are recorded monthly in each slack. Metrics summarising hydrological regime were calculated and adjusted for each quadrat based on elevation. We tested the relationship between water table depth, plant communities and topography across and within dune slacks. Results: Half (three) of the slacks showed a significant influence of hydrology on plant community composition. The three that did not were the ones that varied least topographically and contained less diverse plant communities. We also provide indirect evidence of niche segregation by modelling species-specific responses between mean water table depth and probability of species presence. Conclusions: We demonstrate that hydrology is a dominant driver of plant community composition across dune slacks. However, plant communities are not always structured by hydrology, demonstrating the complexity of vegetation patterns. Topographic variation appears to impact plant community patterns, as do successional processes, highlighting the need to create diverse habitats for slack restoration and management.</p>}},
author = {{Dwyer, Ciara and Pakeman, Robin J. and Jones, Laurence and van Willegen, Lisanne and Hunt, Natalie and Millett, Jonathan}},
issn = {{1100-9233}},
keywords = {{coastal wetlands; dune slack; hydrology; microtopography; niche segregation; sand dunes; succession; topography}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
number = {{5}},
publisher = {{International Association of Vegetation Science}},
series = {{Journal of Vegetation Science}},
title = {{Fine-scale hydrological niche segregation in coastal dune slacks}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13085}},
doi = {{10.1111/jvs.13085}},
volume = {{32}},
year = {{2021}},
}