Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological
classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation

J 2003

Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation

KOČÍ, Martin, Milan CHYTRÝ and Lubomír TICHÝ

Basic information

Original name

Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation

Authors

KOČÍ, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Milan CHYTRÝ (203 Czech Republic) and Lubomír TICHÝ (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Journal of Vegetation Science, Uppsala, Opulus Press, 2003, 110-9233

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

Sweden

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/03:00008132

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

UT WoS

000186226400015

Keywords in English

Braun-Blanquet approach; Cocktail; Czech Republic; Expert system; Matching; Mulgedio-Aconitetea; Species group; Vegetation survey

Abstract

V originále

Delimitation of vegetation units in phytosociology is traditionally based on expert knowledge. Applications of expert-based classifications are often inconsistent because criteria for assigning relevés to vegetation units are seldom given explicitly. Still, there is, e.g. in nature conservation, an increasing need for a consistent application of vegetation classification using computer expert systems for unit identification. We propose a procedure for formalized reproduction of an expert-based vegetation classification, which is applicable to large phytosociological data sets. This procedure combines Bruelheides Cocktail method with a similarity-based assignment of relevés to constancy columns of a vegetation table. As a test of this method we attempt to reproduce the expert-based phytosociological classification of subalpine tall-forb vegetation of the Czech Republic which has been made by combination of expert judgement and stepwise numerical classification of 718 relevés by TWINSPAN. Applying the Cocktail method to a geographically stratified data set of 21 794 relevés of all Czech vegetation types, we defined groups of species with the statistical tendency of joint occurrences in vegetation. Combinations of 12 of these species groups by logical operators AND, OR and AND NOT yielded formal definitions of 14 of 16 associations which had been accepted in the expert-based classification. Application of these formal definitions to the original data set of 718 relevés resulted in an assignment of 376 relevés to the associations. This assignment agreed well with the original expert-based classification. Relevés that remained unassigned because they had not met the requirements of any of the formal definitions, were subsequently assigned to the associations by calculating similarity to relevé groups that had already been assigned to the associations. A new index, based on frequency and fidelity, was proposed for calculating similarity. The agreement with the expert-based classification achieved by the formal definitions was still improved after applying the similarity-based assignment. Results indicate that the expertbased classification can be successfully formalized and converted into a computer expert system.

Links

GA206/99/1523, research and development project

Name: Parametrizace fytocenologického systému pomocí velkých souborů dat

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Parameterization of the phytosociological classification using large datasets

MSM 143100010, plan (intention)

Name: Časoprostorová dynamika biodiverzity v ekosystémech střední Evropy.

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Spatiotemporal biodiversity dynamics in ecosystems of Central Europe

Citovat

KOČÍ, Martin, Milan CHYTRÝ and Lubomír TICHÝ. Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation. Journal of Vegetation Science. Uppsala: Opulus Press, 2003, vol. 14, No 4, p. 601-610. ISSN 110-9233.

@article{488117,
   author = {Kočí, Martin and Chytrý, Milan and Tichý, Lubomír},
   article_location = {Uppsala},
   article_number = {4},
   keywords = {Braun-Blanquet approach; Cocktail; Czech Republic; Expert system; Matching; Mulgedio-Aconitetea; Species group; Vegetation survey},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {110-9233},
   journal = {Journal of Vegetation Science},
   title = {Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation},
   url = {http://www.sci.muni.cz/botany/chytry/JVS2003b.pdf},
   volume = {14},
   year = {2003}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 488117
AU  - Kočí, Martin - Chytrý, Milan - Tichý, Lubomír
PY  - 2003
TI  - Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation
JF  - Journal of Vegetation Science
VL  - 14
IS  - 4
SP  - 601
EP  - 601
PB  - Opulus Press
SN  - 1109233
KW  - Braun-Blanquet approach
KW  - Cocktail
KW  - Czech Republic
KW  - Expert system
KW  - Matching
KW  - Mulgedio-Aconitetea
KW  - Species group
KW  - Vegetation survey
UR  - http://www.sci.muni.cz/botany/chytry/JVS2003b.pdf
N2  - Delimitation of vegetation units in phytosociology is traditionally based on expert knowledge. Applications of expert-based classifications are often inconsistent because criteria for assigning relevés to vegetation units are seldom given explicitly. Still, there is, e.g. in nature conservation, an increasing need for a consistent application of vegetation classification using computer expert systems for unit identification. We propose a procedure for formalized reproduction of an expert-based vegetation classification, which is applicable to large phytosociological data sets. This procedure combines Bruelheides Cocktail method with a similarity-based assignment of relevés to constancy columns of a vegetation table. As a test of this method we attempt to reproduce the expert-based phytosociological classification of subalpine tall-forb vegetation of the Czech Republic which has been made by combination of expert judgement and stepwise numerical classification of 718 relevés by TWINSPAN. Applying the Cocktail method to a geographically stratified data set of 21 794 relevés of all Czech vegetation types, we defined groups of species with the statistical tendency of joint occurrences in vegetation. Combinations of 12 of these species groups by logical operators AND, OR and AND NOT yielded formal definitions of 14 of 16 associations which had been accepted in the expert-based classification. Application of these formal definitions to the original data set of 718 relevés resulted in an assignment of 376 relevés to the associations. This assignment agreed well with the original expert-based classification. Relevés that remained unassigned because they had not met the requirements of any of the formal definitions, were subsequently assigned to the associations by calculating similarity to relevé groups that had already been assigned to the associations. A new index, based on frequency and fidelity, was proposed for calculating similarity. The agreement with the expert-based classification achieved by the formal definitions was still improved after applying the similarity-based assignment. Results indicate that the expertbased classification can be successfully formalized and converted into a computer expert system.
ER  -

KOČÍ, Martin, Milan CHYTRÝ and Lubomír TICHÝ. Formalized reproduction of an expert-based phytosociological classification: A case study of subalpine tall-forb vegetation. \textit{Journal of Vegetation Science}. Uppsala: Opulus Press, 2003, vol.~14, No~4, p.~601-610. ISSN~110-9233.

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