%0 Research article
%T Diversity and distribution pattern of bryophytes and vascular plants in a boreal spruce forest
%A Vellak, Kai
%A Paal, Jaanus
%A Liira, Jaan
%D 2003
%J Silva Fennica
%V 37
%N 1
%R doi:10.14214/sf.508
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/508
%X Small scale pattern of bryophyte communities is one of the remarkable  sources of diversity in species-poor boreal forests. By means of  correlation and general linear model approaches, the relationships  between bryophyte vegetation and upper layers, as well as the response  of ground and field layer species to several environmental factors, was  analyzed in a boreal spruce forest in South-East Estonia. Of the studied  factors, the strongest influence on the diversity and spatial  distribution of ground and field layer species was found for ‘distance  from nearest tree’. Species from different layers react differently to  the proximity of trees. Species richness of bryophytes is higher further  from trees, whereas more vascular plant species prefer to grow in the  vicinity of tree trunks. For bryophyte species richness, the pH of the  decay horizon is also important; fewer bryophyte species occur in more  acid conditions.