Plant communities in the North Cascades Mountain Range were studied to understand how different environmental factors affect them. By analyzing 1433 plots, researchers identified 14 major types of plant communities based on the abundance of different plant species. The primary axis of variation in the data spanned 11.7 standard deviations, showing significant differences from east to west. The secondary axis spanned 6.9 standard deviations, indicating differences in wetness. Approximately 4 standard deviations represent a complete turnover in species, showing distinct changes in plant communities across the North Cascades.