Vegetation of Europe: hierarchical floristic classification system of vascular plant, bryophyte, lichen, and algal communities

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.

Syntaxonomic synopsis of the forest and tall scrub vegetation of Northern Algeria

“…We refer to for the synecological descriptions, distribution, and diagnostic species lists for each association. The concepts and nomenclature of the classes and most of the follows Mucina et al (2016) and we applied the naming rules of the ICPN (Weber et al, 2000) to other high-rank syntaxa not covered by the European vegetation system (Mucina et al, 2016). In synonymy of some associations we also cite the article of the ICPN, according to which the synonym is deemed invalid or illegitimate.…”

“…The classification of the classes within the zonal-intrazonal-azonal system follows Mucina et al (2016). Foucault (1993) have 'described' a series of 'Les synusies arborescentes' under the following names:…”

“…The best-known scree is the western-central European Tilio-Acerion Klika 1955. There are several analogous scree alliances in the submediterranean Southern Europe (see Mucina et al, 2016) (Meddour & Laribi, 1999) Lit. : Wojterski (1988), Meddour (1994aMeddour ( , 2002, , Meddour & Laribi (1999).…”

Vaskularna Flora Akvatičnih I Vlažnih Staništa Uz Glacijalna Jezera U Nacionalnom Parku Sutjeska (Republika Srpska, Bosna I Hercegovina)

“…Pri tome su koordinate svih polja pridružene koordinatama fitocenološkog snimka koji je najbogatiji vrstama, u WGS 1984 koordinatnom sistemu. U prikazu istraživanih lokaliteta (Tabela 1) geografske koordinate i naziv glacijalnog jezera prate i preliminarni nazivi zabilježenih fitocenoza na nivou asocijacije ili sveze, čija je nomenklatura usklađena prema više izvora (Horvat et al, 1974;Lakušić et al, 1978;Martinčić, 1994;Školek, 2003;Landucci et al, 2013;Mucina et al, 2016). Fitocenoze su poredane tako da prate gradijent vlažnosti, od akvatičnih submerznih, preko emerznih do vlažnih terestričnih, čime se dobija uvid u zoniranje vegetacije okoline pojedinih jezera (Tabela 1).…”

Riparian Forest Communities Along Watercourses in the Sutjeska National Park (Se Bosnia and Herzegovina)

“…Syntaxonomically, this vegetation belongs to two alliances of two different classes: a) alder-ash and oak riparian floodplain forests on nutrientrich alluvial soils in the nemoral zone of Europe (Alnion incanae Pawłowski et al 1928, Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae P. Fukarek et Fabijanić 1968) and b) willow scrub on the gravelly stream banks in the submontane to subalpine belts of the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Carpathians (Salicion eleagno-daphnoidis (Moor 1958) Grass 1993, Salicetea purpureae Moor 1958) (Mucina et al, 2016). Albeit they are physiognomically and floristically different these communities are similar in a way that they thrive in the areas of constant periodic fluctuations of water level, with periods of flooding and periods of drought, and consequently disturbed and undeveloped soil (Ellenberg, 2009).…”