Why Delineate Boundaries?
Data without classification has very little meaning. We classify in order to distinguish one population from another, to create information about populations so that others can recognize the characteristics and extent of what we mean when we name populations (Kuchler, 1973). However, it is entirely possible that boundaries do not exist in the natural world. This fact, however, should not preclude the generation and analysis of them to better understand the spatial distribution of phenomena on the landscape and help planners better plan. It is appropriate and useful to discuss of what value the knowledge gained from the exercise of boundary generation might bring. In one instance, we might be interested in defining and delineating a cluster or neighborhood of one population in space; characterizing its edge, its spatial form, and hypothesizing its rate and direction of growth. Alternatively, we might be interested in defining the dividing edge, transition zone or ecotone (Johnston and B
