Plant biomass and species composition along an environmental gradient in montane riparian meadows

Abstract

In riparian meadows, narrow zonation of the dominant vegetation frequently occurs along the elevational gradient from the stream edge to the floodplain terrace. We measured plant species composition and above- and belowground biomass in three riparian plant communities - a priori defined as wet, moist, and dry meadow - along short streamside topographic gradients in two montane meadows in northeast Oregon. The objectives were to: (1) compare above- and belowground biomass in the three meadow communities; (2) examine relations among plant species richness, biomass distribution, water table depth, and soil redox potential along the streamside elevational gradients.

Citation

Dwire, Kathleen A.; Kauffman, J. Boone; Brookshire, E. N. Jack; Baham, John E. 2004. Plant biomass and species composition along an environmental gradient in montane riparian meadows. Oecologia. 139(2): 309-317.