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An application of ordination to the identification of forest types

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Summary

The problems of allocating new vegetation stands to an existing classification are outlined. As one solution, the vegetation samples from an area may be ordinated by reciprocal averaging and classified by dividing the ordination into community-types. The ordination scores for a short list of species present in a new sample may then be averaged to locate that sample on the ordination axes and in one of the community-types. The method is tested by comparing estimates from incomplete species lists with that from a complete list of species in an forest stand in southern Ghana.

Résumé

Le problème d'insérer des relevés nouveaux dans une classification préexistante est esquissé. Une solution est de soumettre les relevés de la région étudiée à une analyse factorielle des correspondances, obtenant ainsi une ordination divisible en types de végétation. Un relevé nouveau peut se poser sur les axes de l'ordination, et dans le type correct, si la valeur moyenne d'ordination est calculée pour une liste brève des espèces constituantes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

    M. D. Swaine & J. B. Hall

Authors
  1. M. D. Swaine
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  2. J. B. Hall
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Additional information

Nomenclature follows Hutchinson & Dalziel (1954–72) except where authorities are given.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. M.O. Hill in the correct formulation of the ‘coordinate estimation’ procedure.

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Swaine, M.D., Hall, J.B. An application of ordination to the identification of forest types. Plant Ecol 32, 83–86 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02111902

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02111902

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