Ordination as a tool for substantiating and interpreting floristic classifications: a case study

Abstract

Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination is used as a tool for substantiating the authenticity of hierarchical syntaxa derived from a phytosociological classification of the vegetation of the Eastern Transvaal Escarpment in the Sabie area. Ecological interpretation of syntaxa is facilitated by superimposing environmental variables on axes of ordination.

Keywords

• classification. Detrended Correspondence Analysis
• ecological interpretation
• ordination
• PHYTOTAB