The use of the Cole/Hurlbert C8 association coefficient in inverse ecological classification

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Abstract
Inverse classification is routinely used in vegetation surveys to produce groups of sociologically similar species. However, no classification methods have been proposed specifically for this purpose, nor has any evaluation been made of the suitability of existing methodsforthe purpose. Anewvariant of Cluster Analysis is introduced, i. e. using the Cole/Hurlbert association measure C8 as coefficient, and named for convenience Cole Cluster Analysis. This method, and four standard ones, were used on saltmarsh vegetational data from New Zealand. Ecophysiological data were obtained from salt‐tolerance experiments.These data, and distributional information, were used as independent criteria against which to compare the inverse vegetation classifications. Information Analysis did not prove suitable for inverse analysis in this test. Nor did Cluster Analysis with the Simple Matching Coefficient or with Jaccard's coefficient. Indicator Species Analysis was more suitable, but the new Cole Cluster Analysis seemed the most effective on these data.