Beiträge zur Ökologie vonPuccinellia capillaris auf Helgoland

Abstract

Puccinellia capillaris (Liljebl.) Jansen has been investigated at various localities around the island Helgoland (North Sea) from 1968 onwards. Ecological studies at 68 locations including an analysis of soil factors and various hydrographical parameters revealed thatP. capillaris is a species composed of three variants of the Puccinellietum retroflexae (Almquist) Beeftink. The typical variant occurs fragmentarily some dm above the mid-tide level; the variant associated withGlaux maritima is frequent at a higher level with increasing salinity; the variant associated withCoronopus squamatus is found in wet places with decreasing salinity. The association is rendered unstable due to erosion by wind, sand and water. Culture experiments with oversanding of plants indicate thatP. capillaris is a cespitose type of grass. As a result of increasing sand levels, the plants can lengthen their stems to the soil surface. This explains the sand-gathering and sand-fixation effects observed. Such behaviour suggests the possibility of using this plant for preservation of sandy-stony-soil habitats along the sea-shore.