Maritime climate influence on chaparral composition and diversity in the coast range of central California.

ABSTRACT: We investigated the hypothesis that maritime climatic factors associated with summer fog and low cloud stratus (summer marine layer) help explain the compositional diversity of chaparral in the coast range of central California. We randomly sampled chaparral species composition in 0.1-hectare plots along a coast-to-interior gradient. For each plot, climatic variables were estimated and soil samples were analyzed. We used Cluster Analysis and Principle Components Analysis to objectively categorize plots into climate zone groups. Climate variables, vegetation composition and various diversity measures were compared across climate zone groups using ANOVA and nonmetric multidimensional scaling. Differences in climatic variables that relate to summer moisture availability and winter freeze even

SUBMITTER: Vasey MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4224539 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature