On gradients and response curves

Dale, M.B. (2005) On gradients and response curves. Community Ecology, 6 (2). pp. 155-166. ISSN 1585-8553

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Abstract

In this paper, I examine the choice of response curves of plants to environmental gradients. The commonest choice has been a unimodal curve, of a shape similar to a Gaussian. This is implied, for example, by correspondence analysis. However, other alternatives are possible which may lead to different interpretations. We have therefore a problem of determining an appropriate model. In part the choice is constrained by our beliefs about the nature of the gradient and by sampling considerations, particularly the modifiable unit area problem. For the rest it is necessary to invoke Ockham's razor and employ a technique such as minimum message length estimation in order to facilitate comparison of models and classes of models. In this paper I examine the existence of gradient(s), the possible forms of response functions and the effects of data contamination.

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