Vegetation ecological studies at the lower course of Sabor River (Tras-os-Montes, NE-Portugal)

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Methodology
  • 2.1 Study area
    • 2.1.1 General considerations
    • 2.1.2 Topography
    • 2.1.3 Climate
    • 2.1.4 Hydrology
    • 2.1.5 Geology
    • 2.1.6 Soils
    • 2.1.7 Bioclimatic description
    • 2.1.8 Biogeography and Vegetation
    • 2.1.9 Land use
  • 2.2 Sampling
  • 2.3 Data analysis
    • 2.3.1 Species richness
    • 2.3.2 Floristic-structural analysis
      • Arrangement of basic structural matrices
      • Arrangement of contingency matrices
      • Cluster analysis
      • Ordination by Principal Component Analysis
      • Discriminant Canonical Analysis
      • Assessment of intensity of land use
• 3. Results
  • 3.1 Species richness
  • 3.2 Floristic-structural analysis
    • Cluster analysis with BSM
    • Ordination by PCA
    • Correlation Clusters (Tendencies of Behaviour)
    • Life form, frequency classes and expressivity in apparent communities
    • Discriminant analyses
    • Assessment of land use intensity
• 4. Discussion
  • 4.1 Species richness
  • 4.2 Floristic-structural analysis
• 5. Literature cited

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This diploma thesis examines the vegetation ecology of the lower course of the Sabor River in northeastern Portugal. The study focuses on characterizing the floristic-structural dynamics and diversity of the vegetation covering the valley, particularly in the context of land-use changes and the potential impact of a planned hydroelectric power plant.

• Characterizing the floristic-structural dynamics and diversity of the vegetation
• Assessing the influence of land-use changes on vegetation patterns
• Analyzing the potential impact of the hydroelectric power plant on the riverine ecosystem
• Examining the ecological significance of riparian communities
• Exploring the role of structural parameters in describing vegetation structure

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study, outlining the ecological significance of the Sabor River valley and the motivation behind the research.

Chapter 2 details the methodology employed in the study, encompassing the study area description, sampling techniques, and data analysis methods. This chapter includes detailed information about the geographical, climatic, and hydrological characteristics of the region, as well as the specific methods used for data collection and analysis.

Chapter 3 presents the results of the study, encompassing the species richness analysis and the floristic-structural analysis based on multivariate statistical techniques. The chapter provides insights into the species composition, structural characteristics, and spatial distribution of the vegetation communities.

Chapter 4 discusses the results obtained, relating the findings to existing knowledge about the vegetation ecology of the region and offering interpretations of the observed patterns. The chapter addresses the ecological significance of the findings and their implications for the conservation and management of the Sabor River valley.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This diploma thesis focuses on vegetation ecology, riparian communities, floristic-structural dynamics, diversity, land-use change, hydroelectric power plant, and multivariate statistical analysis. The study utilizes a combination of field observations, species richness analysis, and structural parameters to explore the vegetation patterns and their ecological implications.