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Ecological parameter: LANDOLT vascular plants - continentality Switzerland (Alpine region)

Parameter group: occurrence related parameters

Explanation:
The continentality value characterises the occurrence of a species with respect to the continentality of the climate, i.e. solar radiation, winter temperatures and air humidity. It indicates whether there is dry air and a large variation in temperature (high values), or humid air and small ranges of temperature (small values). Species having high values grow in regions with continental-like climate and locally south-exposed slopes that are often snow-free in winter. Species with small values are distributed in regions with oceanic-like climate, i.e. along the front ranges of the Alps, along the Central Plateau and in shaded, humid and north-facing places that are rich in snow during winter time.

Landolt, E., Bäumler, B., Erhardt, A., Hegg, O., Klötzli, F., Lämmler, W., Nobis, M., Rudmann-Maurer, K., Schweingruber, F.H., Theurillat, J.-P., Urmi, E., Vust, M. & Wohlgemuth, T. (2010): Flora indicativa - Ökologische Zeigerwerte und biologische Kennzeichen zur Flora der Schweiz und der Alpen, 2. Aufl., Haupt Verlag, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien, 378pp.


Classification system: score
A description of the coding system can be found here  Abbreviations/Coding Systems

Abbreviations:
Category name:Abbreviations:Explanation:
11oceanic: very high relative air humidity, very small daily and annual variation in temperature, relatively mild winters
22suboceanic: high relative air humidity, small daily and annual variation in temperature, rather mild winters
33suboceanic to subcontinental: medium relative air humidity, moderate daily and annual variation of temperature, medium winter temperatures
44subcontinental: low relative air humidity, large daily and annual variation of temperature, rather cool winters
55continental: very low relative air humidity, very large daily and annual variation in temperature, relativley cold winters
variationrange of variation regarding the continentality value: I - small variation, II - large variation
Assigned taxa for each higher systematic unit:
TaxagroupNumber of assigned taxa / total number of taxa - percentage
Liliopsida221 / 361 - 61.2%
Lycopsida4 / 12 - 33.3%
Magnoliopsida7 / 20 - 35%
Polypodiopsida11 / 19 - 57.8%
Rosopsida286 / 399 - 71.6%
Sphenopsida8 / 9 - 88.8%