Ecological amplitudes of plant species and the internal consistency of Ellenberg’s indicator values for moisture

Abstract

Two methods for estimating ecological amplitudes of species with respect to Ellenberg’s moisture scale are discussed, one based on weighted averaging and the other on maximum likelihood. Both methods are applied to phytosociological data from the province of Noord-Brabant (The Netherlands), and estimate the range of occurrence of species to be about 4–6 units on the moisture scale. Due to the implicit nature of Ellenberg’s definition of moisture, it is impossible to improve the indicator values in a statistically sound way on the basis of floristic data only. The internal consistency of the Ellenberg indicator values is checked by using Gaussian logit regression. For 45 out of the 240 species studied the indicator value is inconsistent with those of the other species. The same method is used to estimate the optima and amplitudes of species considered moisture-indifferent and of some species not mentioned by Ellenberg. Some of these ‘indifferent’ species show a remarkably narrow amplitude.

It is concluded that the Ellenberg indicator values for moisture form a reasonably consistent system.

Nomenclature follows Heukels-Van der Meijden (1983), Flora van Nederland, 20th ed.

We would like to thank M. J. S. M. Reijnen and J. Wiertz for the discussions that gave us the idea for this research. We are grateful to J. de Bree, C. Hengeveld and the referees for comments on the manuscript. Part of this research was supported by the Commissie Grondwaterwet Waterleidingbedrijven, the Keuringsinstituut van Waterleidingartikelen, the Landinrichtingsdienst, Staatsbosbeheer, and the Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieubeheer.