The vegetation of serpentine outcrops is typically more open and stunted than th
ID: 283460 • Letter: T
Question
The vegetation of serpentine outcrops is typically more open and stunted than that found on other rocks in the same area. Upon closer examination, the vegetation of serpentine is found to contain many species not found on other rocks. Some of the plant species comprising serpentine vegetation are endemics, found only on serpentine and nowhere else. In your study of serpentine areas in northern California, you discover an area where an outcrop of serpentine is in direct contact with an outcrop of granite. The two rock types support vegetation strongly dominated by grasses in the genus Bouteloua. A dense stand of Bouteloua granitophila on granite is abruptly replaced by an open stand of B. serpentina on serpentine. You decide to begin your studies by determining the extent to which the two grasses are restricted to their respective substrates by abiotic factors. You find that Bouteloua granitophila grows well on granitic soil in the common garden, but fails to grow on serpentine soils. B. serpentina grows well on serpentine soil in the common garden, and it grows equally well on granitic soil. What do you conclude?
Explanation / Answer
Serpentina vegetation and its species grow well in soil on serpentine out crops. Some of the serpentina species are endemic. Some of the plant species are not found on other rocks soils.
Bouteloua supported in growing in contact area of serpentine and granite.
Boutekoua granitophila species dense on granite replaced by B.Serpentina
Serpentine chemical composition is Mg3(OH)4(Si3O5)
Granite chemical composition is 70-77% silica, 11-13% alumina, 3-5% potassium oxide, 3-5% soda, 1% lime, 2-3% total iron, and less than 1% magnesia and titania.
It seems that abiotic conditions are main reasons for growing well in different rock units.
Serpentine is a magnesium silicate rock. B. Serpentina grows well in magnesium rich area so this species is found more in serpentine rock area. But Boutekoua not grow in magnesium rich areas so this species is not growing in serpentine area.
Granite is having silica, potassium and aluminium is a favourable soil of plant species Boutekoua Granotophila. So it growing more in granite area.and B. serpentine not faour of these chemical elements not growing in granite area.
So growth and survival of plants also depends upon abiotic factors like physical and chemical characteristics of soil derived from its parent rock.
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