Relationships Between Landform and Phyto-Diversity in the Turtmann Valley, Switzerland

Graz

2007

S. 89-94

1 Abb., 4 Tab., 20 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

200151935

Landscape variety, landform diversity and vegetation richness are closely linked in high mountain regions and build a complex interacting ecological system. The main focus of this study is to analyse these relations between phyto-diversity and landform using a DEM from very high resolution data (HRSC) of the Turtmann valley, Switzerland. During fi eld campaigns in 2005 and 2006 vegetation, especially the number of species was mapped in 2x2m¬ and 10x10m¬plots considering certain topographic classes. Additionally, particularly topographic parameters and indices were derived from a DEM (HRSC). First statistical analysis showed fair correlations between height, curvature, wetness, distance to ridges and solar radiation with the number of species. A prediction of plant diversity by stepwise multiple linear regression s of remote sensing derived parameters showed moderate results with R¬ of 0.45. With R¬ of 0.35 partial least square regressions (PLS) as well showed average correlations between species richness and landform parameters.