Editorial
Global overview of plot-based vegetation classification approaches
De Cáceres, Miquel; Franklin, Scott B.; Hunter, John T.; Landucci, Flavia; Dengler, Jürgen; Roberts, David W.
Phytocoenologia Band 48 Heft 2 (2018), p. 101 - 112
33 references
published: May 1, 2018
published online: Mar 14, 2018
manuscript accepted: Jan 18, 2018
manuscript revision received: Jan 16, 2018
manuscript revision requested: Jan 8, 2018
manuscript received: Dec 7, 2017
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
Abstract While classification of vegetation can be conducted in many ways, international homogenization of procedures and typologies is desirable for human societies that are highly connected in terms of sharing biodiversity information. This Special Issue of Phytocoenologia includes 12 papers that document several of the plot-based classification approaches currently used throughout the world. The issue includes approaches from five continents, but noticeable gaps are South America, middle-eastern countries, northern Africa and southeastern Asia. We include in this editorial a brief synthesis of the papers included in the Special Issue, with respect to (1) the amount of vegetation-plot data and characteristics of the classification systems developed in different areas and (2) the concepts and procedures of classification approaches. One of the most important common attributes among the classification approaches is the need to define vegetation units at a low level of abstraction. ‘Association’ (and perhaps ‘alliance’ too) may be a classification level for which international homogenization of procedures would be most easy to achieve, perhaps establishing different consistent classification sections depending on ecological conditions. Several papers in this issue demonstrate that multiple approaches may coexist for higher levels, as long as they abstract vegetation from the same low level units by focusing on a specific set of concepts and defined from the perspective of applications. Abbreviations: CCS = consistent classification section; IAVS = International Association for Vegetation Science; SI = Special Issue; VCWG = Vegetation Classification Working Group (of the IAVS). Submitted: 7 December 2017; first decision 8 January 2018; accepted: 18 January 2018
Keywords
approach • association • community ecology • concept • global • International Association for Vegetation Classification (IAVS) • methodology • procedure • relevé • vegetation classification • Vegetation Classification Working Group (VCWG) • vegetation-plot data