Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European
vegetation

J 2003

Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation

CHYTRÝ, Milan and Zdenka OTÝPKOVÁ

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

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

Sweden

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

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

Abstract

V originále

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 project

Name: 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

Citovat

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.

@article{488116,
   author = {Chytrý, Milan and Otýpková, Zdenka},
   article_location = {Uppsala},
   article_number = {4},
   keywords = {Braun-Blanquet approach; Class; Database; Data quality; Ecological scale; Habitat survey; Plant community; Relevé; Vegetation classification},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {110-9233},
   journal = {Journal of Vegetation Science},
   title = {Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation},
   url = {http://www.sci.muni.cz/botany/chytry/JVS2003a.pdf},
   volume = {14},
   year = {2003}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 488116
AU  - Chytrý, Milan - Otýpková, Zdenka
PY  - 2003
TI  - Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation
JF  - Journal of Vegetation Science
VL  - 14
IS  - 4
SP  - 563
EP  - 563
PB  - Opulus Press
SN  - 1109233
KW  - Braun-Blanquet approach
KW  - Class
KW  - Database
KW  - Data quality
KW  - Ecological scale
KW  - Habitat survey
KW  - Plant community
KW  - Relevé
KW  - Vegetation classification
UR  - http://www.sci.muni.cz/botany/chytry/JVS2003a.pdf
N2  - 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.
ER  -

CHYTRÝ, Milan and Zdenka OTÝPKOVÁ. Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation. \textit{Journal of Vegetation Science}. Uppsala: Opulus Press, 2003, vol.~14, No~4, p.~563-570. ISSN~110-9233.

Detailed Information on Publication Record