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Analysis and integration of soil parameters and vegetation of a Cariboo-Chilcotin wetland in British Columbia

University of British Columbia

The objective of this project was to investigate the relationships which exist between soil parameters and vegetation distribution in a wetland in the Chilcotin region of B.C. These relationships are presently poorly understood, yet pressure from agriculture and wildlife interests are increasing the need for the management of these wetlands. The project was designed as an intensive study of a single wetland, to reduce the influence of non-soil factors on the vegetation distribution. Sixty sites were sampled for both soil and vegetation. Soil samples were analyzed for parameters relating to nutrient levels, salt content, soil reaction, and organic matter content. The vegetation was classified using three computer assisted techniques; a tabular analysis, a cluster analysis, and a dissimilarity analysis. The resulting classifications were evaluated for ease of identification and utility in distinguishing significant variation in soil properties. The vegetation distribution appeared to be dominantly controlled by the water level, which is reflected in the high pH, high salt content of the drier regions, and the high levels of organic matter production and accumulation in the wetter regions. The extremes of the gradient are characterized by distinct vegetation communities and by soil types which can be statistically separated on the basis of these controlling factors. The intermediate region of the gradient can be separated into various community types, depending upon the method employed. A simplified pattern of four vegetation types occurring on soils which are significantly different in those parameters shown to control vegetation distribution can be developed for this wetland. The soils were classified into four groups, resulting from a cluster analysis based on those parameters indicated by factor analysis to be important. The distribution of single species and community types were found to be poor indicators of these soil groupings.

Text

2010-03-25

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/22503

Soil Science

University of British Columbia

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