Plant Communities within Atlantic Coastal Heathlands in Nova Scotia

Abstract Coastal heathlands are rare ecosystems that provide habitat for rare species in Nova Scotia. Thirty-nine plots were established in Nova Scotia heathlands to assess plant community composition and occurrence of rare plants. Analysis of species richness and multidimensional scaling (MDS) revealed that heathland communities are varied, with differences between regions, inland and coastal sites, and between physiognomy types. Six rare plants occurred within 9 of 39 plots. Coastal heathland communities were found to have greater species richness and variation in community type than previously thought. Heathland rare plants are not restricted to any particular community type; rather, rare coastal plants in Nova Scotia occur in a wide variety of community types. Coastal heathlands add diversity to the mostly forested landscape of Nova Scotia and provide habitat for rare species.