| Ecological studies of the Warm Springs Seasonal Wetland in Alameda County, California were conducted to determine characteristics of the plant community structure and soils characteristics of vernal pools and saline seasonal wetlands on this site. The fresh water and saline vegetation communities, soils and seasonal flooding characteristics were surveyed. Vegetation types and gradients were investigated using PCA analysis and nine vegetation types were determined. Two vegetation gradients were also identified. Vegetation types separated along two gradients: surface soil salinity and patterns of seasonal flooding. Surface soil salinities were variable, but significantly more saline in subsoils than in surface soils, and were more saline in unvegetated and continuously eroding soils in the lower floodbasins and in the upland grasslands. |
