Some Thoughts on Ordination Techniques, Ecological Study Units, and the Method of Synecological Coordinates

It is proposed that new units of ecological research using climate and soil stratification will improve communication and utilization of research results amongst ecologists. It is also stated that within these new units of study, the method of synecological coordinates provides better insights into vegetation dynamics. This method uses indicator values of species occuring together to estimate the operational environment (described by moisture, nutrient, heat and light coordinates). l published data set was used to compare the method of synecological coordinates with three ordination techniques. The synecological coordinates method classified sampling units and plant species in the ecosystem space more easily than did the other techniques.