The use of diversity indices to assess the diversity of vegetation in managed boreal forests

A classification of biodiversity in managed forests is presented. The class ification is based on the abundances of ground vegetation species, the clas ses being described using stand variables and diversity indices. Four alpha diversity indices, three measures of evenness, and three beta diversity in dices are calculated. Discriminant analysis is used to determine the stand variables that best describe the classes. A total of 14 forest classes are established based on the results. The significant variables in the classifi cation, in order of importance, are: the number of coniferous and broadleav ed tree species, prescribed burning, site fertility, topography, mean diame ter of trees, dominance of the tree layer by spruce, number of canopy layer s, soil type, drainage and artificial regeneration (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.