Appendix 8: Vegetation Classification Systems

This paper provides a detailed review of the major vegetation classification and mapping systems used by the management agencies with primary responsibilities for forested land in Australia. It focuses on the clarification of vegetation units and methodologies used. The paper also provides a comparison of the different nomenclatures against a simplified standard to show how the different systems relate to each other. In Australia, different systems for classifying and describing forest vegetation have been developed by various forest land management agencies to suit their own situations. Most vegetation classification systems reviewed are similar in using floristics and structure as the two primary elements in classifying vegetation types, and all use growth form (physiognomy) to distinguish vegetation units. The classification and mapping systems for wood production purposes differ from those for conservation and environment purposes in several aspects—wood production classifications emphasise commercial tree species and/or attributes such as height, whereas conservation classifications emphasise ecology, vegetation coverage, and the importance of understorey species. There are three broad strategic approaches in the vegetation classification programs being undertaken by the major forest land management agencies in Australia: (1) conducting a single classification across the whole of the agencies’ land in a State; (2) conducting a vegetation classification at the regional level, but using the same methods in each region; and (3) using different methods depending on the specific objectives of individual studies. This paper highlights the value of accurate quantitative measurements in the field. For example, for the two key structural attributes of height and crown density, the measured raw data can be accommodated by a number of different classification schemes whereas if the raw data consists of only records by predetermined classes, then such accommodation is difficult and loses precision.

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A novel biome concept and classification system based on bioclimate and vegetation – a Neotropical assay

Vegetation Classification and Survey ◽

10.3897/vcs/2021/64759 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 159-175

Author(s):

Gonzalo Navarro ◽

José Antonio Molina

Keyword(s):

Classification System ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Large Scale ◽

Hierarchical Classification ◽

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Tropical Ecosystems ◽

Bioclimatic Variables ◽

Ecological Functionality

The knowledge of biomes as large-scale ecosystem units has benefited from advances in the ecological and evolutionary sciences. Despite this, a universal biome classification system that also allows a standardized nomenclature has not yet been achieved. We propose a comprehensive and hierarchical classification method and nomenclature to define biomes based on a set of bioclimatic variables and their corresponding vegetation structure and ecological functionality. This method uses three hierarchical biome levels: Zonal biome (Macrobiome), Biome and Regional biome. Biome nomenclature incorporates both bioclimatic and vegetation characterization (i.e. formation). Bioclimate characterization basically includes precipitation rate and thermicity. The description of plant formations encompasses vegetation structure, physiognomy and foliage phenology. Since the available systems tend to underestimate the complexity and diversity of tropical ecosystems, we have tested our approach in the biogeographical area of the Neotropics. Our proposal includes a bioclimatic characterization of the main 16 Neotropical plant formations identified. This method provides a framework that (1) enables biome distribution and changes to be projected from bioclimatic data; (2) allows all biomes to be named according to a globally standardized scheme; and (3) integrates various ecological biome approaches with the contributions of the European and North American vegetation classification systems. Taxonomic reference: Jørgensen et al. (2014). Dedication: This work is dedicated to the memory of and in homage to Prof. Dr. Salvador Rivas-Martínez.

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Poplar box woodlands of Eastern Australia: an assessment of a threatened ecological community within the IVC framework

Vegetation Classification and Survey ◽

10.3897/vcs/2021/71216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 241-255

Author(s):

John T. Hunter ◽

Eda Addicott

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Environmental Protection ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Ecological Community ◽

South Wales ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Epbc Act

Aims: Ecosystems nationally at risk in Australia are listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act), and many cross State jurisdictional boundaries. The determination of these ecosystems across the State boundaries are based on expert knowledge. The International Vegetation Classification has the potential to be useful as a cross-jurisdictional hierarchy which also gives global perspective to ecosystems. Study Area: All bioregions that include Eucalyptus populnea as a dominant or major component of woodlands across the species known distribution. Methods: We use plot-based data (455 plots) from two states (Queensland and New South Wales) in eastern Australia and quantitative classification methods to assess the definition and description for the Poplar Box Woodland ecosystem type (hereafter “ecological community” or “community”) that is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act. Analyses were conducted using kR-CLUSTER methods to generate alliances. Within these alliances, analyses were undertaken to define associations using agglomerative hierarchical clustering and similarity profile testing (SIMPROF). We then explore how assigning this community into the IVC hierarchy may provide a mechanism for linking Australian communities, defined at the association and alliance levels, to international communities at risk. Results: We define three alliances and 23 associations based on the results of floristic analysis. Using the standard rule-set of the IVC system, we found that the IVC hierarchy was a useful instrument in correlating ecological communities across jurisdictional boundaries where different classification systems are used. It is potentially important in giving a broader understanding of communities that may be at risk continentally and globally. Conclusions: We conclude that the IVC hierarchy can incorporate Australian communities at the association level into useful units at higher levels, and provides a useful classification tool for Australian ecosystems. Taxonomic reference: PlantNET (http://plantnet/10rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/) [accessed June 2019]. Abbreviations: EPBC Act = Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act; IVC = International Vegetation Classification; NMDS = non-metric multidimensional scaling; NSW = New South Wales; PCT = Plant Community Type; QLD = Queensland; RE = Regional Vegetation Community; SIMPER = similarity percentage analysis; SIMPROF = Similarity profile analysis.

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Vegetation classification of the Voronezhsky Nature Reserve

Vegetation of Russia ◽

10.31111/vegrus/2009.14.63 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 63-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

E. A. Starodubtseva ◽

L. G. Khanina

Keyword(s):

Classification System ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Steppe Zone ◽

Alnus Glutinosa ◽

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Ground Vegetation ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Reserve Area ◽

Species Groups

Voronezhsky nature reserve is situated in the forest-steppe zone of European Russia, on the border between Lipetsk and Voronezh regions. The reserve was established in 1923; the total area of the reserve is 31 053 ha. We have created the vegetation classification system for the reserve on basis of 1058 phytocoenotic relevés processing. Phytocoenotic relevés have been collected since 1929 by different generations of researchers. All relevés were included into the data processing. Five forest vegetation formations and one herbaceous formation were described. According to the reserve’s forest inventory from 1991, Pinussylvestris formation occupies 32.3% of the reserve area, broad-leaved forest (oak forest) formation — 29.3, Populus tremula formation — 19.3, birch forest formation — 5.7, and Alnus glutinosa formation — 5.2 correspondingly. Herbaceous formation covers 3 % of the area in dry, moderate moistened and moist soils, and swamps occupy 2.5 % of the reserve area (they are not described here). Within the bounds of the vegetation formations, we have distinguished the vegetation association groups on the basis of ground vegetation functional group composition and ordination (DCA) technique. 8 functional species groups (ecologic-coenotic species groups) were used for the classification. The ecologic-coenotic species groups were as follows: 1) nemoral, 2) boreal, 3) nitrophilous, 4) pine-forest, 5) meadow-forest edge, 6) steppe, 7) oligotrophic, and 8) water-swamp. Totally we have described 23 vegetation association groups united into the 9 ecologic-coenotic types of vegetation cover. 4 vegetation association groups were described for the herbaceous formation. We described in detail vegetation association groups including species, structural diversity and the ecological position calculated by Tsyganov’s ecological species values. We also discuss the group’s history and the succession status. Finally, we have compared the proposed vegetation classification system for the reserve with some other classification systems.

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Background on Vegetation Classification Systems

Geobotany Studies - Standardized Hierarchical Vegetation Classification ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-41222-1_2 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 13-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alejandro Velázquez ◽

Consuelo Medina García ◽

Elvira Durán Medina ◽

Alfredo Amador ◽

Luis Fernando Gopar Merino

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems

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Vegetation classification at the association level under the China Vegetation Classification System: an example of six Stipa steppe formations in China

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtz028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1009-1024

Author(s):

Changcheng Liu ◽

Thomas R Wentworth ◽

Xianguo Qiao ◽

Ke Guo ◽

Dongjie Hou

Keyword(s):

Classification System ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems ◽

International Standards ◽

Data Sets ◽

Diagnostic Species ◽

The Core

Abstract Aims The latest China Vegetation Classification System (China-VCS) for natural/semi-natural vegetation has eight hierarchical levels: Association < Association-group < Subformation < Formation < Formation-group < Vegetation-subtype < Vegetation-type < Vegetation-type-group. The classification is based on dominant species and their growth forms and has been completed at the formation level. The principal challenge today in Chinese vegetation classification is to develop the China-VCS at levels below the formation in a way that is consistent with current international standards. We explored the following question: how can existing vegetation plot data help develop the China-VCS and improve its compatibility with other international classification systems? Methods We compiled 401 plots having plant cover and/or aboveground biomass measurements collected in six Stipa steppe formations and divided them into those with cover data (299 plots) and/or biomass data (283 plots). We applied a combination of hierarchical clustering and ordination to partition the cover and biomass data sets into formations and constituent associations. We then used supervised noise clustering to improve the classification and to identify the core plots representing each association. Diagnostic species were also identified at both association and formation levels. Finally, we compared the classification results based on cover and biomass data sets and combined these results into a comprehensive classification framework for the six formations. Important Findings Our results using cover data were comparable with those using biomass data at both formation and association levels. Three Stipa formations were classified into associations based on cover data, two based on biomass data and one based on both biomass and cover data. Twenty-seven associations were defined and proposed within the six formations, using cover or biomass data as consistent classification sections (CCSs). Both dominant species in the dominant stratum and diagnostic species from multiple strata of the core plots were used to characterize vegetation types at both formation and association levels, improving the compatibility of our classification with the International Vegetation Classification. Temperature and precipitation were found to be important climatic factors determining the distribution pattern and species composition of Stipa-dominated vegetation. We propose a framework for plot-based vegetation classification in the China-VCS, using our work with Stipa-dominated steppe vegetation as an example. We applied the concept of CCS to make optimal use of available data representing both plant cover and biomass. This study offers a model for developing the China-VCS to the association level in a way that is consistent with current international standards.

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Vegetation Classification Systems in the Everglades

Multi-sensor System Applications in the Everglades Ecosystem ◽

10.1201/9780429075872-3 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 61-68

Author(s):

Caiyun Zhang

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems

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Different Causal Factors Occur between Land Use/Cover and Vegetation Classification Systems but Not between Vegetation Classification Levels in the Highly Disturbed Jing-Jin-Ji Region of China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13084201 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 4201

Author(s):

Sangui Yi ◽

Jihua Zhou ◽

Liming Lai ◽

Qinglin Sun ◽

Xin Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Vegetation Classification ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Environmental Research ◽

Causal Factors ◽

Cover System ◽

Explained Variance

Land use/cover and vegetation patterns are influenced by many ecological factors. However, the effect of various factors on different classification systems and different levels of the same system is unclear. We conducted a redundancy analysis with 10 landscape metrics and ecological factors in four periods (1986–2005/2007, 1991–2005/2007, 1996–2005/2007, 2001–2005/2007) to explore their effects on the land use/cover system, vegetation group and vegetation type, and formation and subformation levels of the vegetation classification system in the Jing-Jin-Ji region. Soil, temperature and precipitation from 1986–2005, 1991–2005, and 2001–2005 were the important causal factors, and anthropogenic disturbance and atmospheric factors in 1996–2005 were causal factors at the land use/cover level. The total explained variance from 1996–2005 and 2001–2005 was higher than that from 1986–2005 and 1991–2005 at the land use/cover level. Causal factors and the variance explained by causal factors at the vegetation group, vegetation type, and formation and subformation levels were similar but different in the land use/cover system. Geography, soil and anthropogenic disturbance were the most important causal factors at the three vegetation levels, and the total explained variance from 2001–2007 was higher than that from 1986–2007, 1991–2007, and 1996–2007 at the three vegetation levels. In environmental research, natural resource management and urban or rural planning, geographic factors should be considered at the vegetation group, vegetation type and formation and subformation levels while atmospheric and temperature factors should be considered at the land use/cover level.

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