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Some fuzzy approaches to phytosociology: Ideals and instances

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Abstract

Dale M. B. (1988): Some fuzzy approaches to phytosociology. Ideals and instances.—Folia Geobot. Phytotax., Praha, 23: 239–274.—In this paper I examine some differences between the ideals of systematic traditional phytosociology and pragmatic numerical ones, and identify a difference in their view of the role of a stand. Traditionally very few stands are regarded as typifying the Association, most stands being regarded as being composed of elements of several types. The approaches using numerical methods, by contrast, have generally regarded all stands as equally contributing to the definition of patterns. This difference is reflected in the methodologies regarded as appropriate for the two cases.

Attention is then given to eight classes of methods which relax the numerical insistence on crisp clusters in various ways, to permit the simultaneous presence of several types in a single stand. A stand may be assigned to one or to several clusters, and such assignment may be complete or partial. The methods are exemplified and their various possibilities and problems discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Botanico, Universita degli Studie di Trieste, Via A. Valerio 32, 34 127, Trieste, Italy

    M. B. Dale

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  1. M. B. Dale
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Present address: Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, C. S. I. R. O., St. Lucia, 4067, Australia

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Dale, M.B. Some fuzzy approaches to phytosociology: Ideals and instances. Folia geobot. phytotax. 23, 239–274 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854819

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