Abstract

GIRON-VANDERHUCK, Mercedes. FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY IN STANDS OF ELAEAGNUS ANGUSTIFOLIA L. (ELAEAGNACEAE). Actu Biol [online]. 2007, vol.29, n.87, pp.167-180. ISSN 0304-3584.

A study was carried out in Valdemoro (Madrid), Spain, in order to assess changes in floristic composition and diversity of plant community that develop under and outside of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. canopy, with the purpose of understanding how the herbaceous community is organized after the establishment of this species, in a place whose prevalence in the first half of the XX century was pastures. This study was conducted in two areas, which differed in anthropic disturbance and moisture soil. A total of 60 sampling plots, each one of a square meter, were laid out at random. In each quadrant, cover percentage was estimated for all herbaceous plant species. A total of 34 species in 16 families and 30 genera were found in two areas. Eight species were found with a covering > 10%. The floristic composition between the two areas was moderately similar with 10 species in common. The factorial analysis of main components reflected a separation among the two places, but it didn't show an ordination of the sampling units with regard to the canopy effect. Species diversity was low in the two areas because of the high covering of some species and, although the areas were contiguous, they differed in the floristic composition and diversity (F = 22.726; p < 0.001). The establishment of E. angustifolia in Valdemoro influenced floristic composition, through a change in the herbaceous community.

Keywords : Canopy; Diversity; Elaeagnus angustifolia; Floristic composition; Herbaceous.

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