The Salt Marsh Vegetation at Vinjekilen, Bamble, SE Norway, with Special Reference to the Puccinellietum maritimae

In the proposed nature reserve Vinjekilen the vegetation types have been studied by means of transects and vegetation samples. The transects have been levelled, their altitudes related to the National Zero Altitude, NN54. The study area, ca 5 ha, constitutes a bay where a small brook built a delta. Puccinellia maritima was found dominating in different zones from --8 to 40 cm NN54. On gently sloping marshes the Puccinellietum maritimae forms a pioneer vegetation in the lower geolittoral zone, descending towards the hydrolittoral mud flats. At higher altitudes, 30-40 cm NN54, Puccinellia was found in local depressions and associated with Juncus gerardii. The mean lower limit of the Puccinellietum corresponds with the mean annual water level, and forms a 'zero altitude'. The 6 transects also show the horizontal and vertical distribution of Zosteretum marinae, Ruppietum maritimae, Salicornietum strictae, Bolboschoenetum maritimi, Bolboschoeno-Caricetum paleaceae, Juncetum gerardii and some other communities which have been described in a synoptic table.