Low-alpine vegetation in Gutulia National Park, Engerdal, Hedmark, Norway, and its relation to the environment

A reference site for vegetational and ecological monitoring of low-alpine vegetation has been established in Gutulia National Park, Engerdal, Hedmark, Norway. Fifty vegetation plots, each 1 m2, were distributed randomly along four open transects. Species abundance was recorded as frequency in 16 subplots. Each plot was supplied with measurements of 26 environmental variables. The first axes of DCA and LNMDS ordinations were closely similar. The first DCA axis was interpreted as a complex snow cover gradient. Several environmental variables varied along this gradient, among them unevenness, soil moisture and soil nutrient status. The cover of the bottom layer varied along the complex-gradient. DCA axis 2 was interpreted as a microclimatic gradient. Partitioning of the environmental· and spatial variation in species composition showed that the spatial variation in the data set was rather low. Monitoring alpine vegetation is considered important since alpine ecosystems may be particularly vulnerable to airborne pollution.