Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Plant Community Patterns on Upland Prairie
in the Eastern Nebraska Sandhills
Walter H. Schacht, Jerry D. Volesky, Dennis Bauer,
Alexander J. Smart, and Eric M. Mousel
Abstract: Topography is an important factor in determining
vegetation patterns in grasslands. We collected frequency of occurrence data
from transects on dune tops, south-facing slopes, north-facing slopes, and interdunal
valleys in the eastern Sandhills of Nebraska to determine the effect of topographical
position on plant species composition. We used canonical discriminant analysis
to separate the four topographical positions based on frequency of occurrence
of the 18 principal plant taxa. Topographic position played an important role
in plant distribution on upland prairie with interdunal transects strongly separated
from transects on other topographical positions. Bluegrasses (Poa L.
spp.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and white sage (Artemisia
ludoviciana Nutt.) were highly associated with interdunal valleys. Little
bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.)] and cool-season grasses,
such as needlegrasses (Stipa L. spp.) and Junegrass [Koeleria pyramidata
(Lam.) Beauv.], tended to be associated with north-facing slopes and warm-season
grasses, such as prairie sandreed [Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook) Scribn.]
and sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii Hack.), tended to be associated
with south-facing slopes. Sedges (Carex L. spp.), western ragweed (Ambrosia
psilostachya DC.), and Scribner dicanthelium [Dicanthelium oligosanthes
(Schult.) Gould var. scribnerianum (Nash)] were the most common taxa
occurring over all topographic positions. Aspect proved to be an important factor
in influencing vegetation distribution in the eastern Sandhills of Nebraska.
Key words: canonical discriminant analysis, frequency
of occurrence, Sandhills, topography, vegetation patterns.
This resource is based on the following source:
Schacht, Walter H., Jerry D. Volesky, Dennis Bauer, Alexander J. Smart, and
Eric M. Mousel. 2000. Plant community patterns on upland prairie in
the eastern Nebraska sandhills. Prairie Naturalist 32(1):43-58.
This resource should be cited as:
Schacht, Walter H., Jerry D. Volesky, Dennis Bauer, Alexander J. Smart, and
Eric M. Mousel. 2000. Plant community patterns on upland prairie in
the eastern Nebraska sandhills. Prairie Naturalist 32(1):43-58.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/plantcom/index.htm
(Version 20AUG2001).
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures
- Table 1 -- Frequency of occurrence by
topographical position of plant species with frequencies >2.0 at the Barta
Brothers Ranch, Nebraska.
- Table 2 -- Mean soil pH, total organic
matter, total potassium, and total phosphorus, in the 0-15-cm and 15-45-cm
depth intervals.
- Figure 1 -- Canonical discriminant analysis
ordination of all transects with 18 species selected from PROC STEPDISC.
- Figure 2 -- Canonical discriminant analysis
ordination of the 18 species based on their correlation structure.
Walter H. Schacht, Alexander J. Smart, and Eric
M. Mousel, Department of Agonomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
68583-0915
Jerry D. Volesky, West Central Research and Extension Center,
Rt. 2 Box 46A, University of Nebraska, North Platte, NE 69101
Dennis Bauer, West Central District (B-K-R), University of Nebraska,
148 W 4, Ainsworth, NE 69210
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