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Permanent quadrats: An interface for theory and practice

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Abstract

Certain neglected concepts for studying vegetation dynamics are reviewed, particularly the incorporating of temporal and spatial heterogeneity; examples are given. Few studies have been of sufficient length to allow partition of the various types of temporal fluctuation influencing vegetation composition. Studies of changes in spatial pattern with time are similarly few. The formation of patches of vegetation and their change with time (nucleation) may determine the entire spatio-temporal structure of the ecosystem, e.g. vegetation groves in arid zones. Simultaneous study of temporal and spatial heterogeneity is required. Future studies will necessitate higher standards of evidence than previously accepted. The practice of equating a few spatially separated sites having different periods of time since a specific disturbance should not be accepted in the absence of evidence that their potential vegetation dynamics has been similar during those periods.

Permanent quadrats with an appropriate experimental design are needed to overcome these problems. The requirements to be met by such a design are discussed, including the role of location, contiguity, perturbation or synthetic experimentation and demographic measurement.

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  1. Division of Land Use Research, Institute of Earch Resources, CSIRO, P.O. Box 1666, 2601, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia

    M. P. Austin

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I thank J. F. Angus, O. B. Williams and A. O. Nichols for comments on the manuscript and C. helman for bibliographic assistance.

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Austin, M.P. Permanent quadrats: An interface for theory and practice. Vegetatio 46, 1–10 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118379

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