Application of Fuzzy Clustering Methodology in the Plant Community Succession

Application of Fuzzy clustering methodology in plant community succession in Loess hilly region is reported in this paper, with the aim to probing into the feasibility of this method in plant community succession. The results showed that the 13 sample plots with 15 species are classified in 5 formations. Combined with restoration period of different phytocoenosis, a relatively complete community succession series has been established: Artemisia scoparia community-Leymus scalinus community-Stipa bungeana community-Artemisia gmelinii community-Hippophae rhamnoides community. This succession series is consistent with the results got by traditional ways, showing that this method is applicable in the plant community succession studies. Moreover this method has strict mathematic meaning with simple calculation and high precision and can be operated in computer, thus improving the quantification of plant community succession studies. Therefore this method has high values in plant succession studies.