Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521794374 ISBN 13: 9780521794374

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2000

The predictability of the physical arrangement of plants, at whatever scale it is viewed, is referred to as a spatial pattern. Spatial pattern is a crucial aspect of vegetation that has important implications not only for the plants themselves, but also for other organisms that interact with plants, such as herbivores and pollinators; or those animals for which plants provide a habitat. This book describes and evaluates methods for detecting and quantifying a variety of characteristics of spatial pattern. As well as discussing the concepts on which these techniques are based, the book includes examples from real field studies and worked examples, which, together with numerous line figures, help guide the reader through the text.

Book Description:

Plants do not grow in places at random, either globally or locally. The predictability of their physical arrangement, termed their spatial pattern, has important implications not only for the plants themselves, but also for other organisms which interact with plants. This book describes and evaluates methods for detecting and quantifying a variety of characteristics of spatial pattern. Worked examples and examples from real field studies, together with numerous line figures, help guide the reader through the text.

Review:

"The book is full of good ideas and methods and...is a fine starting point for those who are new to spatial analysis." Canadian Field-Naturalist

"Overall, this is an up-to-date description and assessment of modern methods for describing plant spatial patterns. The book is useful and a necessary reference for all ecologists contemplating these types of investigation." The Quarterly Review of Biology

"A valuable book for graduate students and researchers in vegetation science, conservation biology, and applied ecology." Northeastern Naturalist

"Mark Dale provides an excellent introduction to the mathematics of pattern recognition and its application to ecological studies." Chicago Botanic Garden

"[T]he book does an excellent job in presenting the methods selected, this selection encompasses many techniques that are only poorly presented elsewhere, and the reader will find much stimulating material in the form of suggestions of applications or methodological development. It fills an extremely useful niche, and anyone concerned with spatial analysis in plant ecology should read it." EcoScience

"This book, first published in 1999 in the Cambridge Studies in Ecology series and now reprinted, fills the need for a comprehensive, in-depth guide through the maze of techniques, both old and new, that are available for analyzing spatial patterns in plant communities...comprehensive, extremely well organized, well written, and well edited. The way in which the vast amounts of information available are clearly outlined, synthesized, summarized and finally condensed into a short paragraph of clear recommendations is one of the main reasons for the appeal of the book, which will be a useful addition to any library." Canadian Botanical Association Bulletin

"This book will be valuable to weed scientists for the scope of information...After reading this book, a person...will have an excellent idea of the appropriate sampling and analytical methods for his or her objectives and a list of references to explore those methods. And if you are a graduate student or researcher already studying the spatial pattern of weed populations and sometimes want more than a statistical description of an analytical method, I think you will appreciate the readable, detailed descriptions of the analytical techniques." Weed Technology

"Overall, the book is well written and provides a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers, and teachers of plant ecology interested in spatial pattern analysis." Forest Science