A comparative framework for broad‐scale plot‐based vegetation classification. Issue 4 (13th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Cáceres, Miquel; Chytrý, Milan; Agrillo, Emiliano; Attorre, Fabio; Botta‐Dukát, Zoltán; Capelo, Jorge; Czúcz, Bálint; Dengler, Jürgen; Ewald, Jörg; Faber‐Langendoen, Don; Feoli, Enrico; Franklin, Scott B.; Gavilán, Rosario; Gillet, François; Jansen, Florian; Jiménez‐Alfaro, Borja; Krestov, Pavel; Landucci, Flavia; Lengyel, Attila; Loidi, Javier; Mucina, Ladislav; Peet, Robert K.; Roberts, David W.; Roleček, Jan; Schaminée, Joop H.J.; Schmidtlein, Sebastian; Theurillat, Jean‐Paul; Tichý, Lubomír; Walker, Donald A.; Wildi, Otto; Willner, Wolfgang; Wiser, Susan K.; Scheiner, Sam;
• Is Part Of: Applied vegetation science. Volume 18:Issue 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 543
• Page End: 560
• Publication Date: 2015-06-13
• Subjects: Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; Plant populations -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; 581.705
• DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12179
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1402-2001

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="avsc12179-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="avsc12179-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>Classification of vegetation is an essential tool to describe, understand, predict and manage biodiversity. Given the multiplicity of approaches to classify vegetation, it is important to develop international consensus around a set of general guidelines and purpose‐specific standard protocols. Before these goals can be achieved, however, it is necessary to identify and understand the different choices that are made during the process of classifying vegetation. This paper presents a framework to facilitate comparisons between broad‐scale plot‐based classification approaches.</p> </sec> <sec id="avsc12179-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Our framework is based on the distinction of four structural elements (plot record, vegetation type, consistent classification section and classification system) and two procedural elements (classification protocol and classification approach). For each element we describe essential properties that can be used for comparisons. We also review alternative choices regarding critical decisions of classification approaches; with a special focus on the procedures used to define vegetation types from plot records. We illustrate our comparative framework by applying it to different broad‐scale classification approaches.</p> </sec> <sec id="avsc12179-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Our framework will be useful for understanding and comparing plot‐based vegetation classification approaches, as well as for integrating classification systems and their sections.</p> </sec> </abstract>