A Physiognomic Classification of Vegetation

Küchler, A. W.

doi:10.1080/00045604909352005

Cited by 77 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Global estimates of direct transformation of ecosystems by humans vary among studies, but there is growing consensus that humans have now transformed ecosystem pattern and process across most of the terrestrial biosphere (Sanderson et al, 2002;Kareiva et al, 2007;Ellis & Ramankutty, 2008). As a result, global patterns of the form and function of terrestrial ecosystems are no longer accurately depicted by the now classic approach to mapping and modelling biomes as a function of climatic and physiographic variables (Shelford, 1932;Holdridge, 1947;Küchler, 1949;Dansereau, 1957;Whittaker, 1970;Prentice et al, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic transformation of the biomes, 1700 to 2000

Ellis

Goldewijk

Siebert

et al. 2010

Global Ecology and Biogeography

1,255

894

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Aim To map and characterize anthropogenic transformation of the terrestrial biosphere before and during the Industrial Revolution, from 1700 to 2000. Location Global.Methods Anthropogenic biomes (anthromes) were mapped for 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2000 using a rule-based anthrome classification model applied to gridded global data for human population density and land use. Anthropogenic transformation of terrestrial biomes was then characterized by map comparisons at century intervals. ResultsIn 1700, nearly half of the terrestrial biosphere was wild, without human settlements or substantial land use. Most of the remainder was in a seminatural state (45%) having only minor use for agriculture and settlements. By 2000, the opposite was true, with the majority of the biosphere in agricultural and settled anthromes, less than 20% seminatural and only a quarter left wild. Anthropogenic transformation of the biosphere during the Industrial Revolution resulted about equally from land-use expansion into wildlands and intensification of land use within seminatural anthromes. Transformation pathways differed strongly between biomes and regions, with some remaining mostly wild but with the majority almost completely transformed into rangelands, croplands and villages. In the process of transforming almost 39% of earth's total ice-free surface into agricultural land and settlements, an additional 37% of global land without such use has become embedded within agricultural and settled anthromes. Main conclusionsBetween 1700 and 2000, the terrestrial biosphere made the critical transition from mostly wild to mostly anthropogenic, passing the 50% mark early in the 20th century. At present, and ever more in the future, the form and process of terrestrial ecosystems in most biomes will be predominantly anthropogenic, the product of land use and other direct human interactions with ecosystems. Ecological research and conservation efforts in all but a few biomes would benefit from a primary focus on the novel remnant, recovering and managed ecosystems embedded within used lands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic transformation of the biomes, 1700 to 2000

Ellis

Goldewijk

Siebert

et al. 2010

Global Ecology and Biogeography

1,255

894

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…At the highest level of classification there is the system put forward by Ktichler (1949) and elaborated by Dansereau (1951), which was designed to be of universal application on a world scale and to facilitate valid comparisons between vegetation units in different parts of the world. A local paper (Ross Cochrane 1963) has applied a slightly modified Ktichler system to the description of Australian vegetation types on a continental scale.…”

Section: Classification Terminology and Notationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The vegetation survey of Western Australia

Beard

1975

Plant Ecol

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“…This physiognomic approach was developed further in the 19th century by Meyen ( 1836), Grisebach ( 1872), Drude ( 1890), and Schimper ( 1898). More recently, DuRietz ( 1932), Dansereau (1951), Kuchler (1949), Fosberg (1%1), and others have improved the physiognomic approach with new innovations. Throughout, the major advantage of methods based on such features as life form and deciduousness has been in the description of large, geographic zones of vegetation, often very similar in appearance, but with substantially different floras.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Quantitative Analysis of Wisconsin Forest Vegetation on the Basis of Plant Function and Gross Morphology

Knight¹,

Loucks²

1969

Ecology

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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.Wiley is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Ecology This content downloaded from 137.Abstract. The structural and functional features of the trees, shrubs, and herbs in the upland forest communities of Wisconsin have been studied for their potential in describing relationships between vegetation and environment. Structure is defined here as the spatial arrangement of the plant biomass, e.g., height, leaf size, and growth form. Functional features include those which are apparent adjustments or responses to the environment, e.g., deciduousness, shade tolerance, method of seed dispersal, and fire resistance. Quantitative estimates of the importance of plant features such as these, regardless of species, were obtained for each of 149 forest stands distributed throughout Wisconsin in all types of upland forest vegetation. Using the index of similarity, c 2w/a + b, each of the 149 stands was compared to every other stand on the basis of 29 tree structural-functional features. The spatial relationships in the resulting ordination demonstrate that the upland forest communities can be distinguished and studied using these features. Although adjacent stands in the ordination are similar on the basis of tree structure and function, they can be different in species composition. The usefulness of grouping species with similar structural-functional features is discussed and related to the concept of ecological equivalence. Finally, the spatial relationships in the ordination are used to derive indices that allow calculation of stand values along structural-functional coordinates. Although the indices are based solely on plant structure, the resulting coordinates can be used to infer some functional features of the vegetation as well as successional status and certain environmental relationships.

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A Physiognomic Classification of Vegetation

Cited by 77 publications

References 2 publications

Anthropogenic transformation of the biomes, 1700 to 2000

Anthropogenic transformation of the biomes, 1700 to 2000

The vegetation survey of Western Australia

A Quantitative Analysis of Wisconsin Forest Vegetation on the Basis of Plant Function and Gross Morphology

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