Life forms and life strategies in Nanocyperion communities from the Netherlands Frisian Islands

Nanocyperion communities (s.l.) are considered here as “warp-and-woof” communities; the Nanocyperion components are described separately as synusiae. On the Netherlands Frisian Islands, four main synusiae have been recognized. Raunkiaer life form spectra show few differences between the communities. Life strategy spectra of the Nanocyperion synusiae, based on systems for phanerogams (modified after Bakker 1966) and bryophytes, yield the clearest patterns. A comparison of the ecology of the communities and an interpretation of the spectra in terms of avoidance of stress or competition suggest that inundations and standing crop of the communities are the main factors determining the distribution of the synusiae. Winter inundations overrule the influence of differences in productivity level, which becomes prominent in drier situations.