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The Development of Numerical Classification and Ordination

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Classification and Ordination

Part of the book series: Advances in vegetation science ((AIVS,volume 2))

Abstract

The invitation to open this session set me thinking about the development of numerical procedures of classification and ordination. Their technical development has been reviewed by various authors from various viewpoints, e.g. Cormack (1971), Orlóci (1975, 1978), Dale (1975), Goodall (1970), Greig-Smith (1954, 1964, 1980), Whittaker (1967, 1973). I do not intend to discuss this in more than broad terms, but there is another aspect that has received less attention. This concerns the influences and constraints which have affected the development of numerical methods and their acceptance by phytosociologists. Their acceptance is particularly important; numerical methods are tools and unless they are used in the investigation of real ecological problems we are wasting our time in developing them.

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  1. School of Plant Biology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK

    P. Greig-Smith

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  1. P. Greig-Smith
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Eddy van der Maarel

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

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Greig-Smith, P. (1980). The Development of Numerical Classification and Ordination. In: van der Maarel, E. (eds) Classification and Ordination. Advances in vegetation science, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9197-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9197-2_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-9199-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-9197-2

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