Post date: Oct 18, 2012 8:44:40 AM
A new article published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution presents a novel statistical approach to determine ecological indicators using species data. Unlike traditional indicator species analysis, the authors of this article allow indicators to be species combinations in addition to single species. They present a simple algorithm that identifies the set of indicators (each one being either a single species or a species combination) that show high positive predictive value for the target ecological conditions. They illustrate the proposed method by determining which combinations of vascular plants can be used as indicators for shrubland and forest vegetation types of New Zealand.
De Cáceres M, Legendre P, Wiser SK, Brotons L (on-line) Using species combinations in indicator value analyses. Methods in Ecology and Evolution (http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2012.00246.x).