Spatial aspects of palaeobiogeographical data and multivariate analysis

Spatial heterogeneity of environmental system induces both patchiness and gradient patterns to biogeography. This can be assumed for the geological past. While the patchiness pattern may best be described by cluster analysis, continuous variation patterns are better portrayed by ordination analysis. Principles, prerequisites and basic procedures of these two multivariate statistical methodologies are reviewed in the context of palaeobiogeography and palaeogeography. New methods of quantifying character taxa and allocating outlying or new samples to predefined biotic groups are described. -Author