Phytosociology
Definition
The study of plant community composition and its relationship to environmental conditions. In forensic contexts, the plant assemblage over a suspected burial is compared to the surrounding community to identify compositional anomalies.
Related terms
- Cadaver decomposition island (CDI)
- The zone of altered soil chemistry (elevated nitrogen, phosphate, microbial biomass, and volatile organic compounds) beneath and around a decomposing body, persisting...
- Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance
- The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (700-1200 nm) that healthy green vegetation reflects strongly due to the structure of chloroplasts. Stressed, sparse,...
- Nitrophilous plant
- A plant species that grows preferentially on nitrogen-rich soils. Examples include stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), and elder (Sambucus...
- Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
- A widely used spectral index calculated as (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red). Values range from -1 to +1; healthy dense...
- Soil inversion
- The displacement of soil horizons when ground is dug. Subsoil is brought to the surface and topsoil is buried, disrupting the established...
Explained in
- Vegetational Disturbance and Clandestine Grave DetectionThe study of plant community composition and its relationship to environmental conditions. In forensic contexts, the plant assemblage over a suspected burial i...