Journal of Student Research 2015

145

Plant Species Richness Determinants in Ephemeral Ponds and Permanent Wetlands

relationship between QMS and species richness in both wetland types, as indicated by a similar slope to the regression models (Figure 5), although the QMS explained more species richness variability in PWs than in EPs.

FIGURE 5

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Species richness

0 5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Mean Quadrat Microtopographic Score

Within-wetland QMS showed significant positive relationships with plant species richness in 37% of all wetlands. A higher proportion of PWs compared to EPs had significant within-wetland relationships between QMS and richness (Fisher’s Exact Test: P = 0.022, Figure 6).