Positive Wechselwirkungen zwischen Polsterpflanzen und Persicaria vivipara (Polygonaceae) in den österreichischen Alpen

Positive interdependency among plants (facilitation) is an important factor under harsh environmental conditions, co-determining vegetation patterns. This study investigates the importance of facilitation for an alpine plant, Persicaria vivipara (Polygonaceae), by statistically analyzing the distance of representative growth-form types (dense cushion, lax cushion, tussock grass, non-tussock grass, rosette herbs, non-rosette herbs, creeping shrubs) to individuals of Persicaria in two altitudinal zones (lower alpine, upper alpine). All estimated parameters indicate that Persicaria benefits from facilitation by dense cushions, Silenen exscapa and Saponaria pumila (Caryophyllaceae). The growth-form of dense cushion appears to improve the conditions for plant-growth compared to the surrounding area. For other growth-forms, which might be expected to improve the environmental conditions (e.g., lax cushions), the results were ambiguous.