Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2007, Page 117

115
The vegetation of grass roofs in the
Faroe Islands and the surrounding
grassland vegetation - a study from
Sandoy
Gróðurin á flagtekjum í Føroyum og á graslendinum
uttanum - ein kanning úr Sandoynni
J. Andy McMullen1 and Kevin J. Edwards2
1 Coulnakyle Farm Cottagc, Nethy Bridge, Invemess-shire PH25 3EA, UK. Email: andy981@btintemet.com
2 Departments of Geography & Environment and Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, Elphinstone Road,
Abcrdeen AB24 3UF, UK. Email: kevin.edwards@abdn.ac.uk
Figure 1. Map showing sampled settlements on
Sandoy. The inset map shows the position of the
Faroe Islands within the North Atlantic region.
Abstract
Vegetation samples were taken from grass roofs on
buildings in Húsavík and Sandur, on the island of San-
doy, in order to determine the factors responsible for
the low species diversity of the roof turfs. The vari-
ables of slope, aspect and grazing were also measured
and in combination with statistical analyses of the data
by detrendcd correspondencc analysis, corrclation and
a measure of species richness, three different hypothe-
ses for the low species diversity of the roof turfs were
explored relating to suminer drought, grazing and the
delibcrate selection of turfs. The data collccted do not
support the last two hypotheses, although the affect of
summer drought on the vegetation can only be deter-
mined experimentally.
Úrtak
Ein roynd varð gjørd at kanna orsøkina til, at marg-
fcldið av sløgum á flagtekjum er so lítið. Sýni vórðu
tikin av gróðri á flagtekjum í Húsavík og heima á
Sandi. Mált varð, hvussu ymist bitið og hallið var -
bæði hvussu brøtt tekjan var og í hvørja ætt hon helti.
Saman við hagfrøðiligari greining av dátunum við frá-
Fróðskaparrit 55. bók 2007: 115-125