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Journal article
Vegetation of Europe: hierarchical floristic classification system of vascular plant, bryophyte, lichen, and algal communities
Applied vegetation science, Vol.19(SUPP 1), pp.3-264
2016
Abstract
Aims
Vegetation classification consistent with the Braun-Blanquet approach is widely used in Europe for applied vegetation science, conservation planning and land management. During the long history of syntaxonomy, many concepts and names of vegetation units have been proposed, but there has been no single classification system integrating these units. Here we (1) present a comprehensive, hierarchical, syntaxonomic system of alliances, orders and classes of Braun-Blanquet syntaxonomy for vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen, and algal communities of Europe; (2) briefly characterize in ecological and geographic terms accepted syntaxonomic concepts; (3) link available synonyms to these accepted concepts; and (4) provide a list of diagnostic species for all classes.
Location
European mainland, Greenland, Arctic archipelagos (including Iceland, Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya), Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Caucasus, Cyprus.
Methods
We evaluated approximately 10 000 bibliographic sources to create a comprehensive list of previously proposed syntaxonomic units. These units were evaluated by experts for their floristic and ecological distinctness, clarity of geographic distribution and compliance with the nomenclature code. Accepted units were compiled into three systems of classes, orders and alliances (EuroVegChecklist, EVC) for communities dominated by vascular plants (EVC1), bryophytes and lichens (EVC2) and algae (EVC3).
Results
EVC1 includes 109 classes, 300 orders and 1108 alliances; EVC2 includes 27 classes, 53 orders and 137 alliances, and EVC3 includes 13 classes, 24 orders and 53 alliances. In total 13 448 taxa were assigned as indicator species to classes of EVC1, 2087 to classes of EVC2 and 368 to classes of EVC3. Accepted syntaxonomic concepts are summarized in a series of appendices, and detailed information on each is accessible through the software tool EuroVegBrowser.
Conclusions
This paper features the first comprehensive and critical account of European syntaxa and synthesizes more than 100 yr of classification effort by European phytosociologists. It aims to document and stabilize the concepts and nomenclature of syntaxa for practical uses, such as calibration of habitat classification used by the European Union, standardization of terminology for environmental assessment, management and conservation of nature areas, landscape planning and education. The presented classification systems provide a baseline for future development and revision of European syntaxonomy.
Details
- Title
- Vegetation of Europe: hierarchical floristic classification system of vascular plant, bryophyte, lichen, and algal communities
- Authors/Creators
- Ladislav Mucina - Univ Western Australia, Iluka Chair Vegetat Sci & Biogeog, Sch Plant Biol M084, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaHelga Bueltmann - Michaelweg 40, D-48149 Munster, GermanyKlaus Dierssen - Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielJean-Paul Theurillat - Centre Alpien de PhytogéographieThomas Raus - Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum BerlinAndraz Carni - Slovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsKaterina Sumberova - Czech Academy of SciencesWolfgang Willner - Vienna Institute for Nature Conservation & AnalysesJuergen Dengler - University of BayreuthRosario Gavilan Garcia - Univ Complutense, Dept Biol Vegetal 2, Fac Farm, E-28040 Madrid, SpainMilan Chytry - Masaryk UniversityMichal Hajek - Masaryk UniversityRomeo Di Pietro - Department of Planning, Design and Architecture Technology, Environment and Landscape Section University of Rome ‘La Spanienza’ Via Flaminia 72 I‐00198 Roma ItalyDmytro Iakushenko - University of Zielona GóraJens Pallas - Kanalstraße 81 D‐48147 Münster GermanyFred J. A. Daniels - University of MünsterErwin Bergmeier - University of GöttingenArnoldo Santos Guerra - Unidad Botan, Jardin Aclimatac Orotava ICIA, C Retama 2, E-38400 Tenerife, SpainNikolai Ermakov - Central Siberian Botanical GardenMilan Valachovic - Institute of Botany of the Slovak Academy of SciencesJoop H. J. Schaminee - Wageningen University & ResearchTatiana Lysenko - Institute of Industrial EcologyYakiv P. Didukh - M.G. Kholodny Institute of BotanySandro Pignatti - Sapienza University of RomeJohn S. Rodwell - Lancaster UniversityJorge Capelo - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e VeterináriaHeinrich E. Weber - University of VechtaAyzik Solomeshch - University of California, DavisPanayotis Dimopoulos - University of PatrasCarlos Aguiar - Polytechnic Institute of BragançaStephan M. Hennekens - Wageningen University & ResearchLubomir Tichy - Masaryk University
- Publication Details
- Applied vegetation science, Vol.19(SUPP 1), pp.3-264
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 262
- Grant note
- Stellenbosch University Universities of Camerino, Perugia and Rome Kuwait University University of the Free State 14-36079G; 505/11/0732 / Czech Science Foundation; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic P1-0236 / Slovenian Research Agency; Slovenian Research Agency - Slovenia University of the North
- Identifiers
- 991005580013707891
- Copyright
- © 2016 The Authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.40 Forestry
- 3.40.86 Plant Communities
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
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- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science