Further studies of plankton ecosystems in the eastern Indian Ocean. IV. Numerical treatment of site-species data

Abstract

In the analysis of the eastern Indian Ocean data various numerical classification methods are used. This paper describes the main techniques used in the series of papers, to provide a common reference for the individual authors in the series.

Common terminology and notation for the numerical techniques are given. Two methods of numerical classification, based on presence-absence data and on numerical data, are described. The use of species-site group association tables is introduced with consistent notation, and a short description of diagnostic methods is given. Where possible, reasons for, and consequences of, a particular strategy being taken are stated.