Objective Methods for the classification of Vegetation. IV. Pattern and minimal area

Abstract

The structure of salt marshes and mallee scrub in Victoria and rain forest' in Uganda was studied by means of quadrats forming a continuous grid or transect or distributed by restricted randomization; the measures used were cover or basal area. The course of increase in variance as the mean spacing between the sample areas increased was in most cases found to be continuous, a linear regression between the logarithms of the variables fitting the data in many oases. In other instances a quadratic or higher-order regression was indicated, and some of these approximated to a "stepwise" curve of the type suggested by Greig-Smith and others. This appeared, however, to be the exception. The theoretical implications of a continuous increase of variance with spacing are briefly discussed.