Plant succession in the gypsum dune field of White Sands National Monument
Abstract
Plant succession is visible among the moving gypsum dunes at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Since the dunes move 1-4 m/yr succession can be correlated with time. Vegetation was sampled at 15 localities with belt and line intercept transects. The data were examined by polar ordination, correlations with soil factors and an association program. Succession behind parabolic dunes is an approximate 800 year process with five stages, dominated by Oenothera pallida, Muhlenbergia pungens, Schizachyrium scoparium. Bouteloua breviseta and Coldenia hispidissima. The distribution of transects on the x-axis of a polar ordination was correlated with age (r.9, p<.01) and on the y-axis with soil moisture (r=.7, p<.05). Sand deposited forward of parabolic dunes creates two successional plant associations requiring about 40 years, which share Ephedra torreyana, Sporobelus airoides and M. pungens. Sartwellia flaveriae and Sporobolus nealleyi occur in one association and B. breviseta in the other. Approaching both the slip face and windward slope of parabolic dunes soil pH, organic matter and nitrogen content decrease. Succession between the closely spaced transverse dunes is initiated by Oryzopsis hymenoides and 0. pallida, and is followed by Abronia angustifolia, E. torreyana and Thelesperma megapotamicum.
Subject Area
Ecology
Recommended Citation
Patrick, Gail Rita, "Plant succession in the gypsum dune field of White Sands National Monument" (1980). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAIEP01589.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAIEP01589