A COMPUTER-BASED METHOD FOR SHOWING CONTINUA AND COMMUNITIES IN ECOLOGY.

The article presents a revised method for grouping sites on the basis of their vegetation. Using frequency modulated relative homogeneity function, the similarities among the sites are calculated and are shown as glyphs on a map because the maps allow a generally precise interpretation of the relations in continua and at community boundaries. The homogeneity function is also used to calculate the centroid and the similarity between community and each site. An illustrative example of using the method is provided. It is concluded that the method can be used where there are large changes in overall abundance from thinly to densely vegetated areas. The study also suggests a way for extending the method to the problem of finding the associated environmental conditions for communities.