An Ecohydrological Approach to Floral and Vegetational Patterns in Arctic Landscape Ecology

Abstract

Water is a fundamental landscape ecological factor. Its behavior in space and time, governed by initial and independent state factors such as climate and topography, largely controls the spatial patterning of primary plant species and vegetation types. The ecologically relevant quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the water regime at a given locality depend largely on its position relative to its hydrological source-sink system. These characteristics influence plant life conditions within the site directly (e.g., moisture supply) and indirectly (e.g., nutrient supply, pH). This complex of relationships is contained in an ecohydrological approach developed in The Netherlands and adapted to arctic conditions present in central southeast Greenland.

It is suggested that this approach may help to increase our understanding of the local to regional patterning in the plant cover and to recognize conditions of special interest and vulnerability. Therefore, it may assist in predicting the impact of both natural changes and human activities and in tracing general processes of succession and possibilities for conservation and regeneration.