An Introduction to Environmental Pattern Analysis

Research workers in the field of environmental science are often faced with the problem of interpreting a multivariate set of observations. Commonly, especially with survey data, the problem is not statistical in the sense of hypothesis testing, rather it is a question of reducing a complex set of data to an efficient summary, a process which may result in the generation of hypotheses. In recent years a technique has been developed for coping with this problem - pattern analysis. This book gives a detailed description of pattern analysis and explains how to apply it in an ecological context. It aims to provide a practical basis which can be readily understood. As well as the various techniques of pattern analysis themselves, the book also discusses the types of data for which they are suitable, the problems likely to be encountered and the best strategies to adopt.