Interaction (Competition) Studies as a Step Towards the Synthesis of Sea- Cliff Vegetation

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Abstract
Interspecific competition between 13 populations of 8 spp. [Festuca rubra, Armeria maritima, Agrostis stolonifera, Plantago maritima, Spergularia rupicola, Silene maritima, Dactylis glomerata and Holcus lanatus] characteristic of sea-cliff vegetation was studied over a 3 yr period. The ranking of the species in order of their relative dominance and suppression under the experimental conditions was examined. F. rubra, Armeria maritima and Agrostis stolonifera were the most competitive species. A similar study examined only ecotypes of 1 spp. (Armeria maritima). Of the 8 populations, one died early in the 4 yr study period, but the remaining 7 could be ranked in order of their survival, vigor and interspecific competitiveness. Inland lowland populations of [A. m.] elongata, montane and lowland populations from Donegal [England, UK] and shingle populations from Norfolk performed best. Sea-cliff populations from Skye and Caithness and salt-marsh populations from Norfolk were least vigorous under experimental conditions. The ecological significance of relative vigor between populations within a species and interspecific competition between several species in a community is discussed. The 8 spp. studied have a high ecological combining ability, while the different populations of A. maritima have a low ecological combining ability. The former have apparently adapted either to co-exist or to utilize more fully the resources of the environment. While the latter have adapted to local conditions.

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