Abstract

The plant communities and individual plant species in and around a salt playa near Goshen, Utah County, Utah were studied in relation to three environmental gradients. Forty-eight stands were sampled by means of meter square gradients. Frequency data for all participating plant species were taken. Soil samples were collected from each site and analyzed to establish the environmental gradients (i.e., total soluble salts, soil moisture and hydrogen ion concentration. Results indicate that community vegetation types respond differentially to the three gradients and can be segregated on the basis of one or more of the gradients. The total soluble salts gradient was found to be the most influential of the three gradients. Correlation analysis indicates that 45% of the diversity measured within the plant communities can be accounted for by the three gradients. Individual plant species distribution patterns are strongly influenced by the three gradients. Niche width measurements exhibited no correlation with the measured gradients.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

1976-04-01

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/Letd468

Keywords

Plants, Effect of salt on

Language

English

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