THE USE OF A MULTIVARIATE METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION (TWO-WAY INDICATOR SPECIES ANALYSIS) IN BIOGEOGRAPHY

Abstract

The use of a classification procedure to establish common patterns in distributions of groups of species is discussed with the aid of an example relating to the herpetofauna of Municipal Durban. This technique was found to be extremely useful and has advantages over other techniques currently in use, particularly that it is more objective. The most important limitation to its use is the requirement of an adequate data set. Although there are many types of numerical procedures for the recognition of pattern available, few appear to have been used in the field of biogeography.