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Abstract Detail


Ecological Section

Super, Laura [1], Vellend, Mark [1], Bradfield, Gary, E. [2].

Plant community changes over 20 years in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver, Canada.

Long term ecological studies are relatively rare, but can greatly advance our understanding of processes that drive changes in ecological communities. This project compared vegetation patterns over a 20+ year period in the coniferous forests of Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver, Canada. Twenty nine permanent plots (20 m x 20 m) initially surveyed in 1985 were resurveyed in 2007 for vascular plant species. We specifically asked: (1) How have plant communities changes over the past 20+ years? (2) Have exotic species increased in diversity or abundance, and expanded their distributions within the park? Vegetation patterns in both time periods were correlated with soil types and historical disturbances such as logging and fire, though changes over the past 22 years were fairly subtle. Several exotic species, including English ivy (Hedera helix), English holly (Ilex aquifolium), and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor), appear to have increased in frequency across the 29 plots, despite ongoing removal efforts. Overall, vegetation in the park appears fairly stable, though expanding distributions of exotic species remain an important concern.


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1 - University of British Columbia, Department of Botany, 3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
2 - University of British Columbia, Botany Department, 3529-6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada

Keywords:
plant communities
permanent plots
Pacific Spirit Regional Park.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Ball Room & Party Room/SUB
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 12:30 PM
Number: PEC033
Abstract ID:711


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