Table 2 Observed frequency of occurrence and mean (±SD) percentage cover and mean (±SD) measured biomass as dry matter of individual plant groups on 405 subplots from 135 study sites (3 subplots per site) and on 135 reference plots. Biomass on a reference plots was calculated as the mean of the three subplots. The total herb layer resents all plants found on a subplot or a reference plot but not all plant groups may be present and the composition may be different; see Tables S6–1 and S6–2 for more details
Plant group | Subplot | Reference plot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency (N) | Cover (%) | Biomass (g·m−2) | Frequency (N) | Cover (%) | Biomass (g·m−2) | |
Small herbs | 325 | 10.6 ± 12.7 | 8.4 ± 12.7 | 126 | 7.8 ± 9.1 | 7.8 ± 10.3 |
Tall herbs | 101 | 16.4 ± 22.7 | 25.6 ± 41.9 | 54 | 10.3 ± 15.0 | 21.6 ± 32.5 |
Grasses | 159 | 12.9 ± 18.2 | 28.6 ± 57.8 | 87 | 9.3 ± 13.6 | 21.3 ± 42.9 |
Sedges | 196 | 9.4 ± 14.8 | 15.6 ± 32.8 | 115 | 6.4 ± 10.7 | 13.4 ± 21.4 |
Ferns | 174 | 18.7 ± 21.4 | 23.3 ± 39.2 | 111 | 9.9 ± 14.1 | 19.3 ± 30.7 |
Shrubs, incl. Woody parts | 218 | 24.3 ± 27.1 | 62.1 ± 127.2 | 114 | 16.0 ± 20.1 | 49.5 ± 84.8 |
Subsample shrubsa, incl. Woody parts | 68 | 18.5 ± 21.0 | 37.0 ± 68.8 | na | na | na |
Subsample shrubsa, excl. Woody parts | 11.7 ± 16.4 | na | na | na | ||
THL, incl. Woody parts of shrubs | 405 | 43.3 ± 32.2 | 75.3 ± 121.1 | 135 | 43.6 ± 31.0 | 75.3 ± 106.2 |