Abstract:

The paper reviews the multivariate statistical methods frequently applied in bird ecology (Principal Component Analysis, Correspondence Analysis, Metric Multidimensional Scaling, Discriminant Analysis, Canonical Correspondence Analysis), and other techniques probably becoming popular in the future (e.g. Multivariate Plexus Analysis). The methods are discussed from the methodological viewpoint (e.g. a priori grouping of data, metric and non-metric procedures), and from the biological viewpoint (structure analysis of communities, analysis of habitat selection at the population level). Popular softwares, general problems, and critiques are also discussed.