Plant water status relationships among major floodplain sites of the Flathead River, Montana

Wetlands
By: , and 

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Abstract

Water status measurements of dominant species from major floodplain plant community types of the North Fork Flathead River, Montana were used to test the accuracy of site moisture gradient relationships postulated from floristic ordinations and site water balance estimates. Analysis of variance tests showed significant differences among the average predawn xylem pressure potential (ψp) of species in several community types. However, additional analyses failed to indicate a significant degree of association between averaged predawn Yp measurements and either floristic ordination or site water balance results. Sixty eight percent of 22 trials comparing the diurnal average ψp of the same species in different community types on the same day were less negative for a species in the wetter community types as predicted by floristic ordinations. Similarly, 64% of the trials indicated that the diurnal average stomatal conductance was higher for a species in the wetter type. These results suggest that although a floodplain moisture gradient exists, it alone does not limit the distribution of floodplain plant communities in the North Fork.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Plant water status relationships among major floodplain sites of the Flathead River, Montana
Series title Wetlands
DOI 10.1007/BF03160785
Volume 5
Issue 1
Year Published 1985
Language English
Publisher Society of Wetland Scientists
Publisher location McClean, VA
Description 20 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Wetlands
First page 15
Last page 34
Country United States
State Montana
Other Geospatial Flathead River
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