CHYTRÝ, Milan and Zdenka OTÝPKOVÁ. Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation. Journal of Vegetation Science. Uppsala: Opulus Press, 2003, vol. 14, No 4, p. 563-570. ISSN 110-9233.
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Basic information
Original name Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation
Authors CHYTRÝ, Milan (203 Czech Republic, guarantor) and Zdenka OTÝPKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic).
Edition Journal of Vegetation Science, Uppsala, Opulus Press, 2003, 110-9233.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Field of Study 10600 1.6 Biological sciences
Country of publisher Sweden
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW URL
RIV identification code RIV/00216224:14310/03:00008131
Organization unit Faculty of Science
UT WoS 000186226400011
Keywords in English Braun-Blanquet approach; Class; Database; Data quality; Ecological scale; Habitat survey; Plant community; Relevé; Vegetation classification
Tags Braun-Blanquet approach, class, Data quality, database, Ecological scale, Habitat survey, Plant community, Relevé, vegetation classification
Changed by Changed by: prof. RNDr. Milan Chytrý, Ph.D., učo 871. Changed: 19/8/2003 09:43.
Abstract
In European phytosociology, variable plot sizes are traditionally used for sampling different vegetation types. This practice may generate problems in current vegetation or habitat survey projects based on large data sets, which include relevés made by many authors at different times. In order to determine the extent of variation in plot sizes used in European phytosociology, we collected a data set of 41 174 relevés with an indication of plot size, published in six major European journals focusing on phytosociology from 1970 to 2000. As an additional data set, we took 27 365 relevés from the Czech National Phytosociological Database. From each data set, we calculated basic statistical figures for plot sizes used to sample vegetation of various phytosociological classes. The results show that in Europe the traditionally used size of vegetation plots is roughly proportional to vegetation height; however, there is a large variation in plot size, both within and among vegetation classes. The effect of variable plot sizes on vegetation analysis and classification is not sufficiently known, but use of standardized plot sizes would be desirable in future projects of vegetation or habitat survey. Based on our analysis, we suggest four plot sizes as possible standards. They are 4 m2 for sampling aquatic vegetation and low-grown herbaceous vegetation, 16 m2 for most grassland, heathland and other herbaceous or low-scrub vegetation types, 50 m2 for scrub, and 200 m2 for woodlands. It has been pointed out that in some situations, sampling in either small or large plots may result in assignment of relevés to different phytosociological classes or habitat types. Therefore defining vegetation and habitat types as scale-dependent concepts is needed.
Links
GA206/02/0957, research and development projectName: Formalizovaná klasifikace polopřirozené travinné vegetace České republiky
Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Formalized classification of the semi-natural grassland vegetation of the Czech Republic
MSM 143100010, plan (intention)Name: Časoprostorová dynamika biodiverzity v ekosystémech střední Evropy.
Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Spatiotemporal biodiversity dynamics in ecosystems of Central Europe
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