SOILS AND PLANT-COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH 3 VITIS SPECIES

This study investigated the environmental conditions and vegetation associated with Vitis riparia, V. rupestris and V. berlandieri (V. cinerea var, helleri) and reports on their distribution and habitats as well as the general topography of their sites. Differences in the chemical and physical soil composition and amount of available water were detected among sites occupied by these species. Canonical correspondence analysis correlated community composition with abiotic gradients (P < 0.001). The first axis in this gradient analysis was positively correlated with increasing site moisture anti negatively correlated with increasing soil carbonates. Vitis berlandieri sites were clustered at the dry end of the gradient, had a higher percentage of soil carbonates, higher soil pll and higher percentage of clay. Celtis laevigata, Juniperus ashei and Quercus stellata were associated with Vitis berlandieri. Vitis riparia sites were more mesic and were associated with Juglans nigra and Ulmus americana. Vitis rupestris sites had high percentages of soil gravel and were associated with Salix caroliniana and Platanus occidentalis. The recorded soil environments and community compositions provided valuable information about the natural habitats of these species and the canonical correspondence analysis identified correlations between abiotic variables, associated vegetation and the presence of these Vitis species.