02163nas a2200145 4500008004100000245007300041210006900114300001300183490000700196520165200203653002201855100001601877700002401893856010001917 1990 eng d00aPatch structure in tallgrass prairies: dynamics of satellite species0 aPatch structure in tallgrass prairies dynamics of satellite spec a229 -2360 v573 a
Space in tallgrass prairie communities is dominated by a few core species. A large number of less abundant, satellite species occupy the remaining space. These satellite species define vegetation patches that vary withinn and between growing seasons. In order to determine if patch structure was random we established five permanent 100-m2 blocks in undisturbed tallgrass prairie in Oklahoma and Kansas. Presence of core and satellite species in each m2 was sampled over one or two growing seasons. Patch types were defined by cluster analysis. Characteristics of patch structure included number of patch types, patch type diversity, patch composition, number of spatial groups, group size, and fractal dimension of the spatial groups. We generated simulated data sets with random species associations, in which we quantified patch structure. Actual patch structure, defined mainly by satellite species, was not significanly different from simulated patch structure, except that simulated patches were more fragmented. Therefore, processes that affect species associations may not be important controls of patch structure of satellite species within the spatial and temporal scale of this analysis. Because there was some degree of spatial autocorrelation in patch structure, dispersal processes may have significant effects on patch structure at this scale. In order to understand grassland community dynamics, we propose that satellite species should be modelled using stochastic models constrained by core species dynamics. This approach may be applicable to any community with major components operating at different hierarchical levels
10atallgrass prairie1 aGlenn, S.M.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/patch-structure-tallgrass-prairies-dynamics-satellite-species