Foundations, measurements and trends in pedodiversity

Abstract

Pedodiversity is a neologism of soil diversity concerning to the analysis of the number of soil classes or pedotaxa using mathematical procedures. However, the same tools are shown to be useful for other purposes such as the analysis of the structure of pedological hierarchical taxonomic systems and the standards for soil surveys and maps. Pedodiversity tools are described including their relations with other mathematical approaches, including: nested subset analysis, species–range size relationships, fractals and multifractals and complex systems. One of the most relevant findings obtained in pedodiversity analysis is that the patterns/regularities are the same for pedological and ecological entities, among others.