A comparative framework for broad‐scale plot‐based vegetation classification

Abstract

Aims 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. Results 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. Conclusions Our framework will be useful for understanding and comparing plot‐based vegetation classification approaches, as well as for integrating classification systems and their sections.

Expanding an existing classification of New Zealand vegetation to include non-forested vegetation

“…thematic) extents (De Cáceres et al 2015). Here, the spatial extent includes New Zealand's North Island, South Island and Stewart Island, but excludes large offshore islands such as Great Barrier, Three Kings, Raoul and the Chatham Islands.…”

When rare species are not important: linking plot-based vegetation classifications and landscape-scale mapping in Australian savanna vegetation

“…However, our results give confidence in understanding at what level of contribution to TFC a species may be considered noise and may also indicate when seasonally dependent annual species, often removed because they are ephemeral, might need to be included. Deleting noisy species from the dataset allows us to define a 'subset of plants of interest', an important attribute of vegetation classification (De Cáceres et al 2015). By defining this 'subset of plants of interest' we can produce a list of regionally important species for classification at landscape mapping levels.…”

“…Plant communities underpin many land management and policy decisions (Margules and Pressey 2000) and much scientific research (De Cáceres et al 2015). Maps showing the extent and distribution of plant communities across large areas of the landscape are a commonly associated management tool.…”

The Alaska Arctic Vegetation Archive (AVA-AK)

“…These and other inconsistencies across datasets point to the need for international standards for Arctic vegetation data collection (Walker et al 2016). This problem is also recognized globally (De Cáceres et al 2015).…”