| Popis: |
During River Habitat Surveys on the physical structure of watercourses in Britain between 1995 and 98, detailed assessments of the floristic associations, physical habitat and water chemistry were made at 165 sites over a wide range of vegetation types. Botanical data from a total of 340 releves from within these RHS were recorded. The vegetation was classified phyto-sociologically on the basis of the abundance of characteristic species, resulting in 45 aquatic, swamp and mire associations being identified together with nine other communities which could not be completely classified phyto-sociologically. The associations were assigned to 22 alliances, 13 orders and 11 classes excluding communities dominated by filamentous algae. Water enrichment (as soluble and total phosphorus) was the most significant factor for the differentiation of the communities but pH, conductivity and alkalinity were also important. |
