05 Derived measurements, Indices and Ordination Numbers

 Several ratios or percentages were derived from field measurements to analyse and assess the richness, structure, diversity, and successional state of the stand. Curtis work was used as the basis for much of the development of ordination indices. A summary of his methods and the scope of his approach is contained in his extensive work of the vegetation communities of Wisconsin[i]. Lastly, data for Wetness Index and Coefficient of Conservatism was obtained from the NHIC database[ii]. Plant functional characteristics, such as C/N ratios, nutritional value, nitrogen fixation ability, seed dispersal potential, etc. were obtained from the USDA Plant Database8, and Climax Adaptation Number from the work by Curtis[iii],[iv],[v],[vi], were used to analyse and interpret the observations of this study.



[i].              Curtis, J. T. 1971. The vegetation of Wisconsin: an ordination of plant communities. Univ. of Wisconsin Pr.

[ii].             Species Information.  Data provided by the Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.  http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/nhic/species.cfm  (Updated 06‑27‑2008)

[iii].            Curtis, J.T. 1959. The vegetation of Wisconsin. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. 657 p.

[iv].            Kent, M. 2011. Vegetation Description and Data Analysis: A Practical Approach. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons. Chapter 6.

[v].             Ranny, J.W., Brunner, M.C. and Levenson, J.B. 1981. Importance of Edge in the Structure and Dynamics of Forest Islands. In AForest Island Dynamics in Man-Dominated Landscapes. Springer Verlag, New York. Page 67 – 95.

[vi].            Calculation of single axis ordination score: (% encounter) X (Climax adaptive Number) or (Average vegetation importance index) X (Climax adaptive Number)

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