Abstract
For a number of experiments on secondary succession on different soils (lasting 9–23 yf) calculations were made of: a) rates of floristic change as measured with the community coefficient of Sørensen (CC), b) rates of cover-based change by the percentage similarity coefficient of Dahl & Hadač (PS), c) rates of change of stages (dominant growth forms). In the calculation of CC and PS the first year of observation and the preceding year have been used as reference years for a given year. Rates of >65% have been ranked as very rapid, rates of 35–65% as rapid, rates of 5–35% as slow, whereas rates of <5% (similarity >95%) indicate temporal stability. Rapid changes of CC are to a large extent confined to the first year only, rapid changes of PS may occur in the following years too. After 5 yr, in many cases CC and PS are as high as ca. 90%, but the values do not exceed 95%. The examples show that rates of change are a useful tool in the description of the succession process.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barkman, J. J., 1958. On the ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes with special reference to the Netherlands. Belmontia 2.
Bergh, J. P., van den (in press). Interactions between plants and population dynamics, Verh. Ges. f. Ökologie 10.
Bornkamm, R., 1961a. Über die Rolle der Durchdringungsgeschwindigkeit bei Kleinsukzessionen. Veröff. Geobot. Inst. Rübei Zürich 37: 16–26.
Bornkamm, R., 1961b. Zur Konkurrenzkraft von Bromus erectus. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 80: 466–479.
Bornkamm, R., 1974. Zur Konkurrenzkraft von Bromus erectus II. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 94: 391–412.
Bornkamm, R., 1981. Zusammensetzung, Biomasse und Inhaltsstoffe der Vegetation während zehnjähriger Sukzession auf Gartenböden in Köln. Decheniana 134: 34–48.
Bornkamm, R., 1975. Zwanzig Jahre Vegetationsentwicklung in einem mitteleuropäischen Halbtroekenrasen. In: W., Schmidt (ed.) Sukzessionsforschung, pp. 535–537. Cramer, Vaduz. 622 pp.
Bornkamm, R. & Hennig, U., in press. Experimentell-ökologische Untersuchungen zur Sukzession von ruderalen Pflanzengesellschaften auf unterschiedlichen Böden. I. Zusammensetzung der Vegetation. Flora.
Braun-Blanquet, J., 1964. Pflanzensoziologie, 3. Aufl. Springer Wien & New York, 865 pp.
Dahl, E. & Hadač, E., 1941. Strandgesellschaften der Insel Ostoy im Oslofjord. Nytt. Mag. Naturv. 82: 251–312.
Horn, H. S., 1976. Succession. In: R. M., May (ed.): Theoretical ecology. Blackwell, Oxford. 317 pp.
Knapp, R., 1974a. Cyclic successions and ecosystem approaches in vegetation dynamics. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 91–100. Junk, The Hague.
Knapp, R., 1974b. Some principles of classification and of terminology in successions. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 167–178. Junk, The Hague.
Lüdi, W., 1930. Die Methoden der Sukzessionsforschung in der Pflanzensoziologie. Handb. biol. Arbeltsmeth. XI: 5: 527–728.
Maarel, E., van der, 1980. Towards an ecological theory of nature management. Verh. Ges. f. Ökol. 8: 13–24.
Maarel, E., van der, 1981. Fluctuations in a coastal dune grassland due to fluctuations in rainfall: experimental evidence. Vegetatio 47: 259–265.
Major, J., 1970. Essay review of Rodin and Bazilevich: The illusive mineral equilibrium. Ecol. 51: 160–163.
Major, J., 1974a. Kinds and rates of changes in vegetation and chronofunctions. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 7–18. Junk, The Hague.
Major, J., 1974b. Differences in duration of successional seres, Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 155–160. Junk, The Hague.
Major, J., 1974c. Biomass accumulation in successions. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 195–204. Junk, The Hague.
Major, J., 1974d. Nitrogen accumulation in successions. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 205–214. Junk, The Hague.
Major, J., 1974e. Accumulation of ash elements and pH changes. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 215–218. Junk, The Hague.
Miles, J., 1979. Vegetation dynamics. Chapman & Hall, London, 80 pp.
Olson, J. S., 1958. Rates of succession and soil changes on Southern Lake Michigansand dunes. Bot. Gaz. 119: 125–130.
Rabotnov, T. A., 1955. Fluctuations of meadows. Bjull. Mosk. O. I. Prir. O. Biol. 60 (3).
Rabotnov, T. A., 1974. Differences between fluctuations and successions. Handb. Veget. Sci. 8: 19–24. Junk, The Hague.
Runge, F., 1963. Die Artmächtigkeitsschwankungen in einem nordwestdeutschen Enzian-Zwenkenrasen. Vegetatio 11: 237–240.
Schmidt, W., (in press). Ungestörte und gelenkte Sukzession auf Brachäckern. Ser. Geobot. 15.
Sørensen, T., 1948. A method of establishing groups of equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content. Biol. Skr. K. danske Vidensk. Selsk. 5: 1–34.
Tagawa, H., 1964. A Study of the volcanic vegetation in Sakurajima, South-West Japan. I. Dynamics of vegetation. Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyushu Univ. Ser. E. Biol. 3: 165–228.
Yodzis, P., 1978. Competition for space and the structure of ecological communities. Lecture Notes in Biomathematics 25. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg & New York. 191 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Nomenclature follows F. Ehrendorfer: Liste der Gefässpflanzen Mitteleuropas, 2. ed., Stuttgart 1973.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bornkamm, R. Rates of change in vegetation during secondary succession. Vegetatio 46, 213–220 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118399
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118399