| Abstract: | Abstract. Vertical stratification was examined in a closely-mown lawn, at both the beginning and end of the mowing/regrowth cycle. Two treatments were examined: Undisturbed, which had been maintained as lawn for 30 yr, and Mechanically Perturbed, on which succession was occurring, after complete removal of vegetation 9.5 months previously. There was significant vertical stratification at both stages of the mowing/regrowth cycle, i.e. even immediately after mowing to a height of 3 cm, and in both treatments. There was general consistency of the vertical role of species during the cycle and between treatments. Relative vertical positions were not closely correlated with absolute leaf heights. However, in no case was the vertical position of a pair of species significantly reversed during the cycle or between treatments. No mutually cyclic vertical relations between species were seen. It is concluded that vertical stratification occurs in even the shortest communities, it starts to develop quite early in succession, and it is dependent largely on the intrinsic properties of the species, their height and (at least in lawns) their recovery from defoliation. |
