Spatial pattern of plant species in a poor mire on the southern Alps (Italy)

In a poor mire on the southern Alps of Italy the local distribution of plant species was related to the main hydrological and hydrochemical gradients of the study site. A consistent trend of decreasing water-table depth was observed from the mire margin towards the mire expanse. Water pH did not show any significant pattern, while electrical conductivity, calcium and magnesium concentrations in pore water decreased from the mire margin towards the mire expanse. The vascular and bryophyte species were divided into three groups on the basis of their distribution on the mire, as defined using a kriging interpolation analysis: 1) species located on the mire margin (i.e., Viccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Vaccinium uliginosum); 2) species located on the mire expanse (i.e., Drosera rotundifolia, Trichophorutn caespitosum, Scheuchzeria palustris, Carex limosa, Drepanocladus fluitans and Sphagnum compactum); 3) species evenly distributed over the mire (i.e., Carex rostrata, Callun...