Vitality Analysis Algorithm in the Study of Status of Plant Individuals and Populations

Abstract

The article presents an algorithm of the vitality analysis plants in the populations. There are three basic stages of algorithm: the first stage is the selection of quantitative traits that characterizes the viability of individuals; the second stage is the assessment of the vitality of specific plant individuals included in the sampling; the third stage is an integral assessment of the population vitality structure. Analyzing the vitality structure of the populations, assessment of vitality of certain individuals is an intermediate calculation and the results may not be take into account, but such approach to the assessment of the vitality of each individual separately is very informative. It is of special significance of the conversion of characteristic values from absolute values to fractions of a unit. In the computational procedure of the vitality analysis, the conversion of feature values from absolute values into unit fractions is essential. It ensures the equivalence of the contribution of each of the features used to the assessment of the vitality of individuals and populations as a whole. Some examples of analyses with a well-defined primary strategy ‒ competitors or explerents have been presented. The vitality analysis of plant populations proposed by authors is characterized by high biological and environmental value and flexibility. This analysis is useful in assessing the populations of rare plant species, meadow grasses, chemical contamination on the population of plants, identifying any changes in the status populations of forest herbs in the change of forest growth conditions, as well as number of species of forest-forming tree species.