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Measuring compositional change along gradients

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Plant community ecology: Papers in honor of Robert H. Whittaker

Part of the book series: Advances in vegetation science ((AIVS,volume 7))

Abstract

A new procedure for measuring compositional change along gradients is proposed. Given a matrix of species-by-samples and an initial ordering of samples on an axis, the ‘gradient rescaling’ method calculates 1) gradient length (beta diversity), 2) rates of species turnover as a function of position on the gradient, and 3) an ecologically meaningful spacing of samples along the gradient. A new unit of beta diversity, the gleason, is proposed. Gradient rescaling is evaluated with both simulated and field data and is shown to perform well under many ecological conditions. Applications to the study of succession, phenology, and niche relations are briefly discussed.

The authors thank E. W. Beals, R. Furnas, P. L. Marks, R. K. Peet, O. D. Sholes and the late R. H. Whittaker for helpful comments. This work was supported in part by a National Science Foundation grant to Robert H. Whittaker of the Section of Ecology and Systematics at Cornell University, and in part by Mclntire-Stennis Grant No. 183-7551 and a grant from the National Park Service, both to Peter L. Marks of the Section of Ecology and Systematics at Cornell University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    Mark V. Wilson

  2. Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    C. L. Mohler

Authors
  1. Mark V. Wilson
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  2. C. L. Mohler
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R. K. Peet

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© 1985 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht

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Wilson, M.V., Mohler, C.L. (1985). Measuring compositional change along gradients. In: Peet, R.K. (eds) Plant community ecology: Papers in honor of Robert H. Whittaker. Advances in vegetation science, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5526-4_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5526-4_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8939-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5526-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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