Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots

To complement formal releve sampling of vegetation during the period July 18-27, 1994, the investigators described each study site (including site topography, surficial geology, estimated snow duration, soil moisture, thaw depth, and signs of disturbance, among other parameters) and collected soil samples adjacent to the releve plots for laboratory analyses.

Soil analyses include measurements of soil chemistry, pH, organic matter content, and texture (percentages of sand, silt, and clay). Ordination analysis displays releve data in two-dimensional space according to species similarity. Results from ordination reveal that three environmental variables -- stability, exposure, and soil moisture -- significantly affect vegetation composition.