The relative importance of dispersal limitation of vascular plants in secondary forest succession in Muizen Forest, Belgium

Abstract Distribution patterns (frequency and percentage cover) of 18 forest plant species were studied in 34 ha of mixed deciduous forest (Muizen Forest, north Belgium). Stands varied in age between 6 and more than 223 years and both slow and fast colonizing species were studied. Detailed land use history data were combined with the species distribution maps to identify species‐specific colonization sources and calculate colonization distances. A multiple logistic regression model was constructed with four covariables: pH (which can impose limits on the potential species‐distribution), second... Mehr ...