As a premise to this textbook on Numerical ecology, the authors wish to state their opinion concerning the role of data analysis in ecology. In the above quotation, Goethe cautioned readers against the use of mathematics in the natural sciences. In his opinion, mathematics may obscure, under an often esoteric language, the natural phenomena that scientists are trying to elucidate. Unfortunately, there are many examples in the ecological literature where the use of mathematics unintentionally lent support to Goethe’s thesis. This has become more frequent with the advent of computers, which facilitated access to the most complex numerical treatments. Fortunately, many other examples, including those discussed in the.
