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Transformation of Cover-Abundance Values in Phytosociology and its Effects on Community Similarity

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Data-processing in phytosociology

Part of the book series: Advances in vegetation science I ((AIVS,volume 1))

Abstract

The numerical treatment of phytosociological data is often based on estimates of cover and/or abundance according to the Braun-Blanquet and Domin scales. Since Schwickerath (1931, 1938, 1940) and Tüxen & Ellenberg (1937) published their transformations there has been discussion on the way the scale values should be used in calculations Qualitative approaches, i.e. based on presence and absence have also been favoured (e.g. Williams & Lambert 1959, van der Maarel 1966) Dagnelie (I960) proposed a pseudoqualitative basis for various calculations by means of a ‘coupure’. A coupure includes the deletion of lower values, usually according to a fixed criterion, e.g. the number of occurrences in a phytosociological table to be remained should be as close as possible to 50%. Dagnelie’s approach remained largely unknown and apparently it has never been tested.

Contribution from the Working Group for Data-Processing in Phytosociology, based on an earlier report for that group (Van der Maarel 1972).

Nomenclature of salt marsh species follows Lausi, Kortekaas, & Beeftink (1979), for names of Arrhenatheretum species see E. Oberdorfer, 1970, Pflanzensoziologische Exkursiosflora für Süddeutschland, 3. Aufl. Ulmer. Stuttgart.

This paper was partly prepared during my stays at the Växtekologiska Institutionen at Lund under NFR grant B 252605. I thank Prof. Nils Malmer, Head of this institute for his interest in my numerical approaches in phytosociology and Dr. Sven Jensén of the same institute for valuable discussions on data transformation Of my own department I thank Sophie Hochstenbach for preparation of the numerical results and Jo Louppen for technical help and discussions concerning the computer programs involved Finally I thank Drs. László Orlóci and Mike Austin for useful comments on the manuscript, and Dr. Dicky Clymo for discussion on transformation formulae and his permission to mention an unpublished formula.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Geobotany, Toernooiveld, 6525, ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    E. van der Maarel

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  1. E. van der Maarel
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Geobotany, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Eddy van der Maarel

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Western Ontario, N6A 5B7, London, Canada

    László Orlóci

  3. Istituto ed Orto Botanico, I 34100, Trieste, Italy

    Sandro Pignatti

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© 1980 Dr. W. Junk bv Publishers, The Hague

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van der Maarel, E. (1980). Transformation of Cover-Abundance Values in Phytosociology and its Effects on Community Similarity. In: van der Maarel, E., Orlóci, L., Pignatti, S. (eds) Data-processing in phytosociology. Advances in vegetation science I, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9194-1_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9194-1_17

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