Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Graph theoretical analysis of the phytosociological structure of plant communities: An application to mixed forest

  • Published:
Vegetatio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A sampling method, compatible with the theory elaborated in the previous paper, was used to investigate the mixed-forest community of a woodlot in Southern Ontario. The results provide an illustration of the graph theoretical methods developed for the elucidation of a community's phytosociological structure. Certain conjectures about the community are tested and it is found that Goodall's hypothesis concerning the nature of a plant community is supported. The tests also show that the vegetation of the study area forms a single natural grouping despite the disparity of the position ofAcer saccharum and the polarity evident among the other tree species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Curtis, J. T. 1969. The Vegetation of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 657 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale, M. 1977. Graph theoretical analysis of the phytosociological structure of plant communities: the theoretical basis. Vegetatio 34: 137–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleason, H. A. 1926. The individualistic concept of the plant association. Bull. Torray Bot. Club 53: 7–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleason, H. A. 1952. The New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the North-eastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Lancaster, Penna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodall, D. W. 1966. The nature of the mixed community. Proc. Ecol. Soc. Australia 1: 84–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hett, J. M. & O. Loucks. 1971. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedling mortality. J. Ecol. 59: 507–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukachev, V. 1925. Über die Methoden der Phytosoziologie. Englers. Bot. Jb. Beih. 135.

  • Yarranton, G. A. 1973. A graph theoretical test of phytosociological homogeneity. Vegetatio 28: 283–298.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

    Mark Dale

Authors
  1. Mark Dale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Nomenclature follows Gleason (1952).

From a thesis submitted to the University of Toronto in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.

I wish to thank Dr. G. A. Yarranton for his ideas and helpful supervision, and my father for his advice and encouragement. Thanks ag also due to Miss J. E. Ellard and Mr. S. Roy who helped prepare the figures. This research has been supported by a National Research Council of Canada and by NRCC grant A-2910.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dale, M. Graph theoretical analysis of the phytosociological structure of plant communities: An application to mixed forest. Plant Ecol 35, 35–46 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02097133

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02097133

Keywords

Search

Navigation