A method of describing the development and state of a plant community

Abstract

The Shannon-Wiener formula was modified in such a way as to include, apart from total diversity, also the total volume of the biotical resources of a plant community, i.e. the amount of accumulated biomass or total production. This was used to describe forest regeneration after clear-cutting. The state of each successional stage was evaluated by comparing its structure with the model of mature community belonging to plant association sensu Braun-Blanquet, which is a system with a structure corresponding to the equifinal state.

Keywords

• diversity index
• plant association
• secondary succession
• woodland clearings