The assignment of relevés to pre-existing vegetation units: a comparison of approaches using species fidelity

Total fidelity value index can be used for the assignment of new relevés to existing vegetation units and it refine classifications derived from unsupervised clustering. Diagnostic species is an important concept in classification. Apart its usefulness characterize niche preferences, diagnostic classification: (1) classification; (2) by reassigning that sustain definition units. The main aims were evaluate relative predictive performance different statistical measures reassignment units, which cases reassignments improve quality original We took produced three commonly classification methods, all reassigned closest unit according total (TFVI), where had been calculated using one eight distinct measures, frequency-positive (FPFI). Classifications obtained after relevé compared initial ones Adjusted Rand Index. solutions, including ones, was evaluated thirteen evaluator statistics. IndVal best among indices TFVI framework, also outperformed FPFI. framework based on group-equalized better results than other rules terms chosen Re-assignments IndVal, r, or FPFI with quality, when combining evaluators. conclude r has assigning could Consequently, our reiterate TFVI, sciences, a good alternative FPFI, as most plots (relevés), predefined types large datasets.