Ordination Procedures Research Articles

Plant Communities of Archaeological Sites, Abandoned Dwellings, and Trampled Tundra in the Eastern Canadian Arctic: A Multivariate Analysis

Arctic terrestrial ecosystems subjected to anthropogenic disturbance return to their original state only slowly, if at all. Investigations of abandoned settlements on three islands in the eastern Canadian Arctic Archipelago have detected striking similarities among contemporary and ancient human settlements with regard to their effects on tundra vegetation and soils. Ordination procedures using 240 quadrats showed the plant assemblages of Thule (ca. 800 B.P.) winter dwellings on northern Devon and southern Cornwallis Islands to be floristically similar to pedestrian-trampled meadows on northeast Baffin Island last used ca. 1969. Comparisons from the literature made with other North American sites in the Low Arctic reveal similar findings. The implication is that the depauperate flora of the Arctic has a limited number of species able to respond to disturbance, and that anthropogenically disturbed patches may be extremely persistent.

A multivariate analysis of geographic variation in morphology inPersoonia mollis (Proteaceae)

This study highlights the utility and limitations of multivariate procedures for the analysis and taxonomic interpretation of geographic variation within a complex species. Morphological data from herbarium specimens ofPersoonia mollis (Proteceae) were analyzed by two ordination procedures, multidimensional scaling (MDS) and canonical variate analysis (CVA). Support for the earlier recognition of nine infraspecific taxa was found. However, plots of canonical variate scores against latitute or longitude across parapatric subspecies boundaries revealed unexpected phenetic homogeneity within subspecies with sharp transitions between subspecies. The geographic variation in morphology withinP. mollis can be best described as a mosaic of nine recognisably distinct and internally homogeneous allopatric or parapatric taxa, where neighbouring taxa share surprisingly narrow zones of morphological transition at ecotones. The utility of these procedures was highlighted by the recovery of unexpected patterns of variation. However, questions of rank remain unresolved by phenetic analysis alone.

Long-term effects of inundation dynamics and agricultural land-use on the distribution of soil macrofauna in fluvisols

The distribution of soil macrofauna was studied in fluvisols. Ordination procedures were used to investigate changes in pppulation structure, long-term effects of agriculture, and inundation dynamics. The main environmental factor in the decrease in species numbers, abundances, and fresh biomass of isopods and diplopods in intensively farmed sites was the gradient of agricultural land-use. The land-use gradient also influenced the earthworm community by increasing the fresh biomass and the mean individual weight of adults. The long-term effects of inundations on the soil macrofauna distribution showed that several species preferred periodically or episodically flooded locations.

Variation in Leptospermum trinervium (Myrtaceae): a problem species and the species problem

Leptospermum trinervium is a variable species that has proved to be taxonomically puzzling because of interpopulation heterogeneity and sympatry of extreme forms. Variation within the species was initially investigated by phenetic analysis of adult morphology from herbarium specimens. Clustering analysis first suggested the existence of two major phenetic groups. Group definition was refined using discriminant function analysis by defining the most phenetically distinct groups. Ordination procedures (canonical variate analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling) confirmed the absolute distinctness of these two phenetic groups. Seven locations were then studied in detail. Three of these locations contained sympatric populations of the two phenetic forms. Phenetic analysis of adult morphology using discriminant function analysis and univariate analyses supported the recognition of the two phenetic groups but also indicated a high degree of distinctness among all populations, and particularly between sympatric populations where no intermediates were found. Diagnostic differences were retained even when seeds from these populations were cultivated under standardised conditions, indicating a genetic basis to the morphological heterogeneity. Preliminary data on genetic structure from allozymes indicated that the sympatric populations were less similar to each other than they were to other phenetically similar populations elsewhere, suggesting a barrier to gene flow between these sympatric populations. These results suggest that the two phenetic groups should be recognised as distinct, but variable, species.

Structure of a protozoan community in a percolating filter

Abstract Structural factors of the microbial community of a percolating filter have been investigated. The presence of some ciliate species has been related to physico‐chemical and plant operational variables by means of ordination procedures. In an 87‐d study period, large variations in density of some species were observed. A limited number of environmental parameters strongly affect ciliate community composition. Major structural factors are sloughed biofilm wasting and nitrogen loading: both induce disturbance and make the community revert to a less mature phase. Moderate disturbance episodes reduce the effectiveness of competitive mechanisms.

Morphometric methods in determination of ammonite species, exemplified throughBalatonitesshells (Middle Triassic)

Specimens of the ammonite genusBalatonitesfrom the Middle Triassic of Austria and Hungary are analyzed morphometrically to obtain growth invariant character states. A new method transforming growth dependent qualitative characters into age invariant metric variables is developed. Weighted standardization as a method preserving univariate discriminatory efficiency is applied to character states preceding numerical classification procedures, resulting in a clearer separation of homogeneous groups in comparison to simple standardized data. All clustering and ordination procedures produce two identical classes, which are interpreted according to the cohesion concept as distinct biological species. In adherence to the taxonomic rules they are denominated asBalatonites egregiusArthaber andBalatonites balatonicus(Mojsisovics).

Fuzzy classification of soil profiles and horizons from the Lockyer Valley, Queensland, Australia

This paper examines the application of fuzzy classification and ordination to the characterization of soil units recognized in the alluvial plain of the Lockyer Valley in southeast Queensland, Australia. Soil profile classes and soil stratigraphic units were recognized initially using field criteria. Data from soil profiles and horizons at 133 equally spaced sites on a 3.4 km transect were analysed. The analyses aimed to assess how similar or separate profiles and horizons were regardless of their position along the transect, and to scrutinise field assumptions of a typical alluvial soil landscape sequence. Centroids of fuzzy groups (classes) were generated together with fuzzy group memberships for each profile or horizon. Distribution of fuzzy group membership on the transect and data patterns developed using ordination procedures were found to reflect changes in landscape position, soil profile classes, soil stratigraphic units and soil factors related to internal drainage. Analysis corroborated most soil stratigraphic units and profile classes recognized in the field but some profile classes were shown to be in need of re-examination. The distribution of horizon groups generated by fuzzy classification was generally unrelated to the distribution of profile fuzzy groups. It is suggested that for these soils it would be difficult to create a fixed number of profile classes based on homologous relationships between horizons. Classification of soil by horizons appears to be more meaningful than the classification of profiles but profile fuzzy group distribution along the transect was more mappable and easily interpreted than horizon fuzzy group distribution.

Translator's Introduction to "The History of Buddhist Nuns in Japan"

The profession of vows and the adoption of special precepts by the committed religious are themes common to the Buddhist and Christian traditions. As yet, however, there has been no in-depth comparative study of the vows and levels of training undertaken by the nuns of the two traditions. Professor Hirakawa provides a useful overview of the history of Buddhist nuns in East Asia. Since his article assumes a certain degree of familiarity with the institutional structure of Buddhist monasticism, I am providing an introduction and a short bibliography for those who may be less familiar with the topic. It is hoped that this discussion of the monastic life and the precepts of Buddhist nuns can be used as a basis for comparison with Christian nuns in Europe and America. The institutional structure of Buddhism is founded on the Vinaya. The Vinaya is that section of the Buddhist canon (Skt. Tripitaka Three Baskets) that explains ethical standards and behavioral guidelines for practitioners. Moral discipline is taught as the basis for spiritual practice-the foundation on which concentration and wisdom are developed. The Vinaya texts explain ordination procedures, specific restraints regulating the everyday conduct of monastics and how these developed, allowable exceptions to the rules, explanations of what constitutes an infraction, and procedures for dealing with infractions of the rules. The Vinaya provides useful background information on each transgression by including the stories of how a bhiksu or bhiksuni originally gave offense to the lay community or to other monks and nuns, necessitating the creation of a prohibition. There are seven types of pr2timoksa precepts set forth in the Vinaya texts: those of a bhiksu (fully ordained monk), a bhiksunK (fully ordained nun), a siksamsn2 (probationary nun), a sra2manera (male novice), sr2manenka (female novice), an up2saka (layman), and an upasika (laywoman). These types of precepts are undertaken as a lifetime commitment. An eighth type of precept, which does not entail a lifetime commitment, is described in the Abhidharmakosa: the twenty-four-hour lay precepts (upavasatha). 1 The five precepts that a Buddhist layperson (up2saka or upasika) voluntarily undertakes for life are (1)

An Analysis of the Spatial Structure of Mammalian Distribution Patterns in Texas

I examined mammalian distribution patterns and species richness in the state of Texas, USA, along two major environmental gradients. I drew a system of square quadrats on a map of the state. I recorded the presence of absence of each native mammalian species and fifteen environmental variables. I analyzed these data using classification and ordination procedures and by statistical regression methods. The purpose of the analysis was to determine if a hierarchical classification explains the spatial structure mammalian distributions well, or if they are best understood as a continuum resulting from the individual responses of species to history and environmental conditions. I used quadratic response surface analysis to relate changes in species richness to environmental gradients and to test ecological hypotheses that richness is explained by climatic stability and primary productivity. Correlation analysis of community ordination axes with a suite of environmental variables indicated that mammalian species distributions differentiate along two major clines: a dominant east—to—west gradient of decreasing precipitation and productivity, and a south—to—north gradient of decreasing mean annual temperature, increasing winter cold, and increasing seasonal variation of temperature. Mammalian community—units, as identified by hierarchical cluster analysis, are essentially continuous with each other. This interpretation is reinforced by the substantial boundary overlap of 95% confidence ellipses about the association centroids. Quadrat ordination scores, contoured on a map of the study area, exhibited rather even patterns of species turnover in both east—to—west and north—to—south directions. This indicates that there are no zones of rapid species replacement followed by areas of faunal homogeneity. The distributions of species that range widely within quadrat sets show little fidelity to the areas to which they are most highly associated. Species appear to be geographically distributed in an individualistic manner according to the vicissitudes of history and their own ecological tolerances. These findings are consistent with the continuum concept community structure for mammals. Quadratic response surface analysis of species richness (bats, rodents, carnivores, and all mammals) with environmental variables estimating productivity and stability of temperature did not support either the productivity or stability hypotheses of species richness. The relationship of these four taxa to a resource gradient of increasing productivity shows that the curvilinear models used by Grime (1979), Huston (1979), and Tilman (1982) for plants apply also to mammals.

Ecological strategies of lichens

AbstractSurvival strategies of 34 species of lichens from a range of substrata, climates and growth forms were examined using the triangular ordination procedure of Grime. Triangular ordination is apparently an appropriate technique to apply to lichens, all available data falling within a triangle except for two foliicolous species which are probably partial leaf parasites. Statistically significant relationships between survival strategy and growth form, mode of asexual reproduction, substratum preference, family affiliation, and diversity of secondary chemical biosynthetic pathways have been demonstrated.

Ecological and zoogeographical study of some Mediterranean associations of brackish water harpacticoids

Abstract Abundance data of harpacticoid species collected during meio‐faunistic surveys in five Italian brackish environments have been analyzed. Comparisons among lagoon species assemblages were subjected to classification and ordination procedures. Additional lists of harpacticoid species from Mediterranean and Pontic brackish lagoons were assembled from the literature and further comparisons were made among the ten harpacticoid associations on the basis of binary presence‐absence data. On a limited distance scale, e.g. the case of the five Italian lagoons, ecological factors, such as the sheltering degree and the extension of the phytal habitat, probably play a predominant role in structuring faunistic associations. On a larger distance scale, e.g. the case of the ten Mediterranean and Pontic lagoons, distributional patterns seem to be more related to zoogeographical factors. Late Quaternary eustatic events are invoked to explain the zoogeographical affinities among Pontic and Adriatic brackish environ...

HOMOPLASY AS PATTERN: MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE IN ANSERIFORMES.

Abstract- A multivariatc model for taxa and characters is presented that represents taxa as points in an ordination space such that shared derived character states define groups of taxa or regions in this space. This model is compared, in terms of concepts of information content and explanatory power, to the eladistie model that relates characters and taxa to a hierarchical pattern. While a cladogram may be identified with a phylogenetic hypothesis, the ordination pattern may be equated with hypotheses about similarities among the taxa in habitat, feeding mode, or other ecological factors. This basic data-pattern model is appropriate for the explanation of the character convergences implied by a particular phylogenetic hypothesis. Under the assumptions of the model, the underlying ordination pattern may be inferred from the observed character data using robust ordination procedures recently developed in community ecology. As an illustration of the method, the morphological convergences derived from a recent phylogenetic hypothesis for genera of Anseriformes are analysed. In the resulting two-dimensional ordination, the genera are arranged such that the convergenlly derived states form regions in the space. While this pattern implies that some of the taxa that are close together in the space are phylogcnetically dissimilar, taxa that are close together in the space are found to be similar in their mode of feeding. Thus, the ordination demonstrates that taxa sharing these morphological convergences tend to utilize habitat in the same way in terms of mode of feeding. The explanatory power of the pattern and the degree of recovery of habitat information are tested against null hypotheses using Monte Carlo simulations. Extensions of the method are discussed, including applications to studies of parasite-host relationships and to biogeography.

The role of oligochaetes in the management of waters

To better understand the role of an aquatic oligochaete in the management of water quality, it was determined if oligochaetes were representative of water quality, if indices based on oligochaetes were widely applicable to access water quality, and if oligochaete assemblages were related to environmental factors other than organic pollution. It was found that if only one monitoring sample a year was taken in December, about 73% of the more common species were collected. Seasonality did not seem to affect the taxa collected except for forms in low presence, e.g., Nais. Several indices we used were not applicable to regulated streams. Oligochaete ordination procedures revealed only a partial picture of the environmental conditions of regulated streams.

Pattern analysis and genotypic x environment interactions in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) populations

Twenty-nine populations of faba bean (Vicia faba L. subsp. major, equina and minor) of mediterranean origin were evaluated for the genetic variability of 12 biomorphological characters at four locations in Apulia and Basili cata regions (Italy) in 1983–84. A pattern analysis appoach, based on classification and ordination procedures is presented for to characterize differences among population in mean performance and response across environments. Informations about G × E interaction were obtained.

A Method for Cluster Analysis Based on Projections and Quantile-Quantile Plots

Cluster analysis is used in a wide variety of fields and consequently there are many different approaches to the problem of grouping similar objects. Cormack (1971) classified clustering techniques into five categories: hierarchical, optimization, density-seeking, clumping, and others, which include ordination, multidimensional scaling, and graphical procedures. The projection method proposed here falls into the last category, and is related to the plotting method of Andrews (1972). Let x = (xl, x2, ..., Xk)' represent measurements on k variables of an object. Andrews (1972) suggested that x could be represented by the function

Morphological evolution in the day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi in the Seychelles: a multivariate study

Geographic variation was investigated in populations of the day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi from 22 islands in the Seychelles, using multivariate ordination procedures. Multiple group principal components analysis was used to negate ontogenetic variation. Seventy-eight characters from three character systems (body proportions, scalation and colour pattern) were analysed from 349 specimens. Three phenetic aggregations of granitic island populations were detected from the northwestern, northeastern and southern island groups. A comparison of the results from the three character systems analysed separately suggests that the separation of the southern form preceded that of the northern forms. Colour pattern characters reflect this closely, while body proportions and scalation characters follow evolution of body size. The populations of Phelsuma sundbergi on the coralline islands are not well differentiated from the races on the granitic islands, and probably represent recent colonizations or introductions by man.

Gradient Analysis of Vegetation Dominated by Two Subspecies of Big Sagebrush

Stands of vegetation dominated by basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subspecies tridentata) intergrade with stands dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (A rtemisia tridentata Nutt. subspecies wyomingensis) on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory in southeastern Idaho. Detrended correspondence analysis and correlation were used to elucidate potential relationships between vegetation patterns and soil factors along a gradient from stands having only the subspecies tridentata to stands having only the subspecies wyomingensis. Distributions of the subspecies were consistently associated with gradients in soil texture. Basin big sagebrush was most abundant on sandy soils and Wyoming big sagebrush was dominant on finer textured soils. Mixed stands occurred on central portions of the gradient. Similar results for 3 study areas were observed, despite differences in soil texture between areas. Thus, the distributional patterns are associated with changes in soil texture rather than actual amounts of sand, silt, or clay. Sagebrush shrublands of the Intermountain West and Great Basin regions are managed for a variety of uses, such as livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and recreational activities. Because management practices often affect biotic and abiotic components of the environment, the relationships between various plant species on these shrublands and the environmental factors that the plants Authors are senior research assistant and professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello 83209. Authors thank Dr. O.D. Markham for his support, N. Cole and D. Pavek for field assistance, D. Floyd and S. Strahm for computer assistance, M. Jensen for soil profile descriptions, and Dr. R. Nowak and two anonymous reviewers for reviewing the manuscript. This paper is a contribution from the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Ecological Studies Program, supported by the Office of Health and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy, contract no. DE-AS07-76ID01529. Manuscript accepted 7 August 1985. experience is of interest. The relationships between Artemisia species and environment have commanded particular attention. Distributions of various species of Artemisia are correlated with a variety of soil and climatic factors (e.g., Robertson et al. 1966, Fosberg and Horonaka 1964, Sabinske and Knight 1978, West et al. 1978). A study of sagebrush distribution at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in southeastern Idaho (Shumar 1983) identified both pure and mixed stands of basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subspecies tridentata; Beetle 1960) and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subspecies wyomingensis; Beetle and Young 1965). (Pure refers to species assemblages containing one subspecies or the other but not both; mixed stands contain both subspecies.) The size of the basin big sagebrush stands was unexpected because previous reports suggested that the expansive lava flows and flats of the upper Snake River Plain were predominantly occupied by Wyoming big sagebrush (Harniss and West 1973, McBride et al. 1978) and contained of basin big sagebrush (Winward 1970). However, some of these basin big sagebrush patches on the INEL may be as large as 65 km2 (Shumar 1983). General descriptions of the soil properties associated with the distributions of basin big sagebrush and Wyoming big sagebrush occur in the literature. Basin big sagebrush occurs on deep (Beetle 1960, Hironaka 1978, Winward and Tisdale 1977), well-drained (Tisdale and Hironaka 1981), often sandy soils (Morris et al. 1976), in valley bottoms, on foothills, or along drainages. Its distribution often coincides with high water tables or deep moisture accumulations (Morris et al. 1976). Wyoming big sagebrush can be found on moderately deep to shallow soils (Hironaka 1978) of medium texture that often limit water penetration (Morris et al. 1976). These plants sometimes occur on immature soils (Morris et al. 156 JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 39(2), March 1986 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.66 on Sun, 12 Jun 2016 05:53:39 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 1976) or slightly saline soils (Tisdale and Hironaka 1981). This subspecies is found on lower slopes of major drainages (Winward and Tisdale 1977) or on hilltops and flats (Beetle and Young 1965). Because of the extent of the pure and mixed stands of the 2 sagebrush subspecies on the INEL, and because of the generalized nature of the information on their relationships to environment, it seemed that an intensive study employing ordination procedures might provide insights into the factors affecting their distributions. The objective of this study was to generate hypotheses about relationships between the distributions of the sagebrush subspecies and characteristics of the soil using ordination and correlation analyses.

Studies in the Vegetational History of S. W. Spain. I. Modern Pollen Rain in the Donana National Park, Huelva

Modern pollen analyses have been conducted in the Doniana National Park, Huelva, S.W. Spain. The main vegetation types are described and pollen diagrams of their respective pollen spectra presented. Data analysis, involving classification and ordination procedures, has thrown some interesting features of the data to light. The results demonstrate that: (i) Some of the major forest and shrub communities can be distinguished on the basis of their associated pollen rain: e.g. Erica scoparia shrub, Olea forest, Quercus forest,Juniperus forest. (ii) Variable pollen representation of the dominant canopy-forming taxa was found to be extremely common in Fraxinus and Pistacia forests and to a limited extent Juniperus forests. (iii) Dioecy in Pistacia is thought to be the cause of the very variable represen- tation found throughout the analysis. (iv) Pine plantations from inland locations cannot, on the whole, be distin- guished from the natural populations of the dune slacks. (v) The importance of an open vegetation structure in allowing increased levels of non-local pollen to enter the local pollen spectrum is illustrated. This

A critique of some regression adjustments used in allometric size “correction” in numerical taxonomy

AbstractResiduals from an allometric regression line fitted in log–log space between linear measurements and a size variable are frequently used in numerical taxonomy as “size‐adjusted” variables. Two forms that these residuals can take are: (1) log observed – log expected and (2) following conversion back to original scale, (observed – expected)/expected. Clustering and ordination procedures are used to demonstrate that summaries of morphometric affinities can be influenced by choice of residual. The discrepancy is predicted to be greater when some objects of study have predominantly positive or negative residuals. This situation may be more likely when many variables are functionally related. An argument is made for use of log residuals. Among the many other size “corrections” employed in multivariate morphometrics are those of Corruccini (1972,1975a, 1978). These are examined and are shown to give undesirable results.

The efficiency of principal component analysis as a variable ordination and selection procedure prior to the sexdiagnosis of human skulls

The efficiency of principal component analysis as a variable ordination and selection procedure prior to the sexdiagnosis of human skulls