An example to interdisciplinary applications of fuzzy logic in plant communities

Abstract

In this work, it is focused on the applicability of classifying and determining plant communities by using fuzzy logic in plant sociology. The advantages of fuzzy logic approach rather than classical methods are also given. Here it is introduced a logical and mathematical description method that can be used in phytosociological analyses. It is proposed that the vagueness of vegetation units can be clarified with Fuzzy Set Theory (FST). Here, plant community type (ct) is expressed as a linguistic variable. A set of its linguistic values (Sct) contains names of syntaxa (as primary terms) and some compound terms. Identifying a plant community is based on its floristic composition and assigning the most appropriate terms in $S_{ct}$ to this plant community. It is presented the differences between taxa and syntaxa. And also the mathematical application of the variable ct in expert systems is discussed. Because FSTis based on multi-valued logic, FST is better suited as a conceptual basis for vegetation science than two-valued logic (Aristotele's logic). This new method flips the disadvantages of classical Braun-Blanquet's method into advantages. It is much easier to separate plant communities by combining similar releves with a fuzzy logic approach that provides more detailed information. Moreover, by applying fuzzy logic, it is possible to reveal the ecological structures of species, releves, and plant communities. It becomes possible to analyse plant sociology data and reveal a relationship with ecological conditions applying computer programs developed by fuzzy logic. In a vegetation table prepared via Braun-Blanquet's method, it is likely encountered a whole set of data that contains very poor, vicious, relative, limited, and insufficient explanations. In contrast, in the current work, vegetation table created by getting help from the fuzzy logic approach includes a detailed synthesis table containing the whole data set. In this approach, plant communities can be more rapidly separated and analysed. In the findings of vegetation studies, by mathematical expressions could provide needed clarity. With this study, the applicability of the fuzzy logic approach on plant sociology has been clearly demonstrated. Here it is proposed a novel plant sociology method that makes the results more understandable, objective, and useful.