Ecoflore, un logiciel simple de diagnostic écologique

Abstract

A structure by groups of indicative species and the systematic use of a humidity/acidity diagram to plot the autecology of the plant species presented in Flore forestière française (Rameau et al., 1989 and 1992) were used to develop a software application named Ecoflore. Based on a vegetation map, it calculates a barycenter in the water and trophic co-ordinates of the diagram. When the position of the barycenter is tested against the situation as derived from numerous standard records in the various catalogues of forest site types, its accuracy is very good. It has been used to pinpoint the incorrect species determination, to provide ecological diagnoses in areas where catalogues are not available, to assess uncertainty depending on whether or not bryophyta or frequency/dominance coefficients are used. It can be used to select species whose autecology is known and is furthermore an excellent teaching aid.