Methodological aspects of synphytoindication analysis of topological differentiation of biotopes

Abstract

The advantages and disadvantages of some most common methods of quantitative analysis used in processing of synphytoindication data were analyzed. These methods enabled reflection of important ecological characteristics of plant communities and assessment of the nature of their topological and regional differentiation characterizing α-, β-, γ-diversity. We also examined current debatable issues regarding the use of scales of ecological indicator values and methods of their correct comparison based on bringing to a single "denominator". The visual aspects of the gradient analysis used in assessment of topological differentiation of habitats based on the establishment of various types (vector, combinative and complex) of ecological and coenotic profiles are considered. We focused our attention on the application of optimal models of ordination methods (detrended correspondence analysis – DCA, non-metric multidimensional scaling – NMDS). The use of cluster analysis reflected in various methods of dendrogram constructing was evaluated. The analysis of the above methods allows us to evaluate the efficiency of their use in various aspects of synphytoindication techniques. This allows us to use such data for forecasting and modeling biocoenoses changes and development, for assessment and classification of biotopes, landscape structure (ecomer), zoning (ecochor), as well as for evaluation of the resistance of vegetation to the influence of external factors. The methods and approaches of mathematics and cybernetics are expected to be more widely used in geobotany in the future, since many pressing ecological issues related to non-linear development, emergent changes in the ecosystems properties and search for critical thresholds cannot be solved in a traditional way.