Seasonal variation and annual fluctuation in granite outcrop plant communities

Permanent quadrats in granite outcrop plant communities allowed us to monitor seasonal variation and annual fluctuation in community structure. Seasonal species turn-over was significant in communities on shallow soil, but not in communities on deeper soil where seasonal dominance shifts were common. Exceptional meteorological events appeared to mediate phenomena of competitive release in some island communities. A decrease in the abundance of Arenaria uniflora in Lichen-annual island communities, following a spring drought, was correlated with an increase in the abundance of Sedum smallii, a shallower-soil species. Richness in Annual-perennial island communities was higher in spring 1985 than in 1984 or 1986, and this occurred as the dominant species, Senecio tomentosus, temporarily declined in importance following a severe drought in late summer 1984. Significant annual fluctuation in the cover of Viguiera porteri could also be related to variations in the summer precipitation regime. Overall, plant responses to drought were individualistic and depended largely on the timing of these meteorological events in relation to the life-stages and/or the physiological status of the plants.Abbreviations AP = Annual-perennial island communities - HST = Herb-shrub-tree island communities - LA = Lichen-annual island communities - SS = Sedum smallii island communities