Abstract
The aim of the vegetation subprogramme of the permanent Swedish Environmental Monitoring Programme (PMK) is to assess effects of anthropogenic atmospheric changes using vegetation as indicator. It is operated in about twenty protected natural areas all over the country, covering several physiographic gradients including air pollution, and most natural ecosystem types. Ideally, small watershed basins are the most adequate areas for this purpose. The vegetation subprogramme has a broad scope covering plant communities, vegetation layers, species populations, and plant organs that are observed at various frequencies. Sampling is done on a basis of a combination of intensive and frequent observations on a few subjectively chosen plots and less intensive, less frequent observations on several objectively selected plots. All practical details are adjusted to the long-term operation envisaged. A major problem is to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic effects.
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