A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies
Standard methods of vegetation classification and survey tend to be either too broad for management purposes or too reliant on local species to support inter-regional comparisons. A new approach to this problem uses species-independent plant functional types with a wide spectrum of environmental sen...
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Resilience Alliance
2002
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-00428-060203 https://doaj.org/article/b0f2a77c1d874b4687a665dcb682c32b |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b0f2a77c1d874b4687a665dcb682c32b 2023-05-15T15:08:17+02:00 A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies Andrew N. Gillison 2002-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-00428-060203 https://doaj.org/article/b0f2a77c1d874b4687a665dcb682c32b EN eng Resilience Alliance http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol6/iss2/art3/ https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087 1708-3087 doi:10.5751/ES-00428-060203 https://doaj.org/article/b0f2a77c1d874b4687a665dcb682c32b Ecology and Society, Vol 6, Iss 2, p 3 (2002) VegClass software gradsects plant functional attributes plant functional types rapid biodiversity assessment vegetation classification vegetation survey Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2002 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-00428-060203 2022-12-31T11:00:14Z Standard methods of vegetation classification and survey tend to be either too broad for management purposes or too reliant on local species to support inter-regional comparisons. A new approach to this problem uses species-independent plant functional types with a wide spectrum of environmental sensitivity. By means of a rule set, plant functional types can be constructed according to specific combinations from within a generic set of 35 adaptive, morphological plant functional attributes. Each combination assumes that a vascular plant individual can be described as a "coherent" functional unit. When used together with vegetation structure, plant functional types facilitate rapid vegetation assessment that complements species-based data and makes possible uniform comparisons of vegetation response to environmental change within and between countries. Recently developed user-friendly software (VegClass) facilitates data entry and the analysis of biophysical field records from a standardized, rapid, survey pro forma. Case studies are presented at a variety of spatial scales and for vegetation types ranging from species-poor arctic tundra to intensive, multitaxa, baseline biodiversity assessments in complex, humid tropical forests. These demonstrate how such data can be rapidly acquired, analyzed, and communicated to conservation managers. Sample databases are linked to downloadable software and a training manual. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Tundra Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Conservation Ecology 6 2 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
VegClass software gradsects plant functional attributes plant functional types rapid biodiversity assessment vegetation classification vegetation survey Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
VegClass software gradsects plant functional attributes plant functional types rapid biodiversity assessment vegetation classification vegetation survey Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 Andrew N. Gillison A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies |
topic_facet |
VegClass software gradsects plant functional attributes plant functional types rapid biodiversity assessment vegetation classification vegetation survey Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Standard methods of vegetation classification and survey tend to be either too broad for management purposes or too reliant on local species to support inter-regional comparisons. A new approach to this problem uses species-independent plant functional types with a wide spectrum of environmental sensitivity. By means of a rule set, plant functional types can be constructed according to specific combinations from within a generic set of 35 adaptive, morphological plant functional attributes. Each combination assumes that a vascular plant individual can be described as a "coherent" functional unit. When used together with vegetation structure, plant functional types facilitate rapid vegetation assessment that complements species-based data and makes possible uniform comparisons of vegetation response to environmental change within and between countries. Recently developed user-friendly software (VegClass) facilitates data entry and the analysis of biophysical field records from a standardized, rapid, survey pro forma. Case studies are presented at a variety of spatial scales and for vegetation types ranging from species-poor arctic tundra to intensive, multitaxa, baseline biodiversity assessments in complex, humid tropical forests. These demonstrate how such data can be rapidly acquired, analyzed, and communicated to conservation managers. Sample databases are linked to downloadable software and a training manual. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Andrew N. Gillison |
author_facet |
Andrew N. Gillison |
author_sort |
Andrew N. Gillison |
title |
A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies |
title_short |
A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies |
title_full |
A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies |
title_fullStr |
A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Generic, Computer-assisted Method for Rapid Vegetation Classification and Survey: Tropical and Temperate Case Studies |
title_sort |
generic, computer-assisted method for rapid vegetation classification and survey: tropical and temperate case studies |
publisher |
Resilience Alliance |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-00428-060203 https://doaj.org/article/b0f2a77c1d874b4687a665dcb682c32b |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Tundra |
op_source |
Ecology and Society, Vol 6, Iss 2, p 3 (2002) |
op_relation |
http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol6/iss2/art3/ https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087 1708-3087 doi:10.5751/ES-00428-060203 https://doaj.org/article/b0f2a77c1d874b4687a665dcb682c32b |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-00428-060203 |
container_title |
Conservation Ecology |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
2 |
_version_ |
1766339677887922176 |