Integral occurrence probability: combining cover and relative shoot frequencies based on bounded point-to-plant distances

摘要: Aims To introduce a new distance-based field method for (herbaceous, terrestrial) plant species that relates cover to relative shoot frequency as continuous process of occurrence probabilities and explain how these data can be analyzed. Methods We propose measure shortest distances from sample sampling points the nearest aboveground part (up maximum search distance). We show how, after appropriate transformation point-to-plant 0-1 interval scale, well at any area up searched read same curve. This leads notion an integral probability, which we abundance measure. For estimation regression modelling make use zero-and-one inflated beta distribution. supply all code required analyses. Results Simulations distribution patterns showed probability is able differentiate between differed in terms cover, density type spatial pattern. It more sensitive differences than either or alone. The allows summing over predict expected richness function searched. Aggregation across while accounting overlap distributions simple matter taking minimum among each point. latter was demonstrated with trial Nardetea grassland. Conclusions The may viable alternative currently employed methods, such visual estimates, point-intercept recording equal-area plots. Applications include, but are not limited to, conservation management monitoring ground-truthing remote sensing data. This article protected by copyright. All rights reserved.