Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 87(2), June 2004 
to classification methodology, or were otherwise poorly 
sampled and/or relatively heterogeneous. Based on 
observations made by the author and others, the 
vegetation subtypes identified seem fairly ubiquitous and 
consistent across the region, and extension of the 
classification would most likely come in the form of 
additional communities within subtypes. A 
comprehensive, robust classification for the region would 
be of considerable benefit for those involved in 
conservation planning, land management and 
environmental impact assessment, especially if the 
various plant communities and other vegetation units 
were accurately mapped to provide information on their 
spatial extents and patterns (van Etten 1998). Such an 
extensive study of flora and vegetation will accompany 
the Pilbara Biological Survey which commenced in mid 
2003. It is also argued that the classification methodology 
used here has advantages over others employed for the 
region as it is based on floristics (and hence seeks to 
maximise the variation in species composition among 
vegetation units), is hierarchical (and so amenable to 
different scales), and is based on congruence among 
different approaches. This latter feature would lead 
toward a more objective and robust classification given 
the wide variety of choices made in terms of cut levels, 
data type and transformation, classification algorithm, 
and the like (Legendre & Legendre 1998). 
Acknowledgments: This study was part of a PhD study at Curtin 
University of Technology by the principal author. Edith Cowan 
University provided financial support for field-work. Drs Stephen van 
Leeuwen and Tony Start from the Department of Conservation & Land 
Management are thanked for advice, whilst the Department is also 
thanked for accommodation at Karijini National Park and permitting the 
collection of plant samples. BHP are thanked for providing 
accommodation at Packsaddle Camp. 
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