Environmental biotic predictors
Plots of 10 x 10 m2 were established in the middle of
homogeneous grassland patches holding a given plant community (Canals &
Sebastià 2000; Sebastiá 2004). Aboveground biomass was estimated from
herbage harvested in four 50 x 50 cm quadrats placed in a 2 x 2 m
subplot within the 100 m2 plot. Plant guild biomass
was determined in one of the four quadrats per plot by hand separation.
Four guilds were sorted: C3 grasses, sedges, legumes and non-legume
forbs (the latter including some sub-shrubs), following Sebastià (2007).
Guild biomass was then oven-dried at 60ºC to constant weight.