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Numerical methods for the establishment of associations

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Summary

This paper examines some of the possible reasons for discord between traditional tabular sorting and methods of numerical classification particularly in rainforest vegetation. A new method of numerical data organisation is introduced to avoid these problems which leads to a natural and operational definition of the Association. This definition relates the Association to the organisational level at which data structure changes from discontinuous to continuous. The method also establishes coefficients of constancy and dominance for species and permits numerical assessment of fidelity. An example is given of the application of the method to tropical rainforest vegetation in North Queensland.

Zusammenfassung

In dieser Arbeit werden einige der möglichen Gründe für die Diskrepanz zwischen den üblichen Tabellen-Ordnungsverfahren und numerischen Klassifikationsmethoden besonders in der Vegetation des tropischen Regenwaldes, untersucht.

Ein neues Verfahren für die Organisation numerischer Daten wird vorgeschlagen. Mit diesem Verfahren wird diese Diskrepanz vermieden und eine natürliche und operationelle Definition der Assoziation erreicht. Diese Definition verbindet die Assoziation mit dem Organisationsniveau auf welchem die Struktur der Daten von diskontinu in kontinu übergeht.

Das Verfahren stellt auch die Konstanz- und Dominanzkoeffizienten fest und ermöglicht eine numerische Schätzung des Treuegrads. Ein Beispiel der Anwendung dieses Verfahrens wird für tropische Regenwaldvegetation in North Queensland gegeben.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. C.S.I.R.O. Divisions of Tropical Agronomy and Plant Industry, Brisbane, Australia

    M. B. Dale & L. J. Webb

Authors
  1. M. B. Dale
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  2. L. J. Webb
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Additional information

Dedicated to Prof. J. Braun-Blanquet at the occasion of his 90th birthday

Nomenclature follows that currently accepted by the Botany Division of the Queensland Department of Primary Industry, formerly the Queensland Herbarium, Indooroopilly, Brisbane.

We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the Queensland Forestry Department in permitting access to the study areas. We also thank Mr. J. G. Tracey, C.S.I.R.O. Rain Forest Ecology Section, for assistance in the field survey and botanical identifications.

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Dale, M.B., Webb, L.J. Numerical methods for the establishment of associations. Plant Ecol 30, 77–87 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02389609

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