Soil acidity and distribution of species on tussocks and interspaces in schoenus vegetation of South and Southeast Sweden

Summary In five South Swedish provinces the vertical distribution of species in Schoenus phytocoenoses, especially bryophytes, were studied by belt transects and analysed by RA. Results indicate that the sequence of bryophyte dominants: Scorpidium scorpioides-Drepanocladus revolvens-Campylium stellatum-Tomenthypnum nitens-Sphagnum fuscum reported by Du Rietz (1949) is distinctly developed in Uppland. A shorter sequence: Scorpidium scorpioides-Drepanocladus revolvens/Campylium stellatum-Ctenidium molluscum, is developed on Öland. In Skåne and Östergötland it is not possible to demonstrate any bryophyte sequence common to all transects and probable reasons for this are discussed. The distribution of the vascular plants confirmed the results of earlier investigations. Several types of relationships between pH and height above interspaces are found and it is assumed that these relationships are due to water fluctuations.I wish to express my gratitude to Nils Malmer, Head of the Department, for valuable advice, to Germund Tyler for help in the field work, to Robert Dewsnap for revision of the English text, and to Mimmi Varga and Brita Billstein for technical assistance.Nomenclature as in Tyler (1980a).The study is the shortened and revised third part of a doctor's thesis.