Abstrakt
Both local site conditions and landscape context influence the course of succession, but there is a lack of experimental studies on the relative importance of these two factors. It is hypothesised that convergence vs. divergence in succession is determined by the interplay of site factors, such as type of substrate and the nature of the surrounding landscape.
In order to evaluate the role of substrate and surrounding landscape in the initial development of vegetation, experimental plots with tertiary clay, sand, peat, sterilised local soil and undisturbed local soil as a control were established in two contrasting regions, and the cover of all the species present was recorded annually for 10 years. In early succession, vegetation was affected by both the substrate and surrounding landscape, but their effects resulted in different trends.
The importance of the substrate gradually decreased, while that of the landscape context increased. In the course of succession the vegetation between the two regions diverged and converged within each region.
We concluded with regard to the divergence vs. convergence dichotomy in succession: if contrasting habitats occur in the same or similar landscapes, convergence is expected, whereas if similar or the same habitats are located in contrasting landscapes, divergence is expected. For the remaining combinations, i.e. contrasting habitats in contrasting landscapes or the same habitats in the same or a similar landscape, successions may exhibit no or only slight divergence or convergence.