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On the delineation of tropical vegetation types with an emphasis on forest/savanna transitions

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 22:49 authored by Torello-Raventos, M, Feldpausch, TR, Veenendaal, E, Schrodt, F, Saiz, G, Domingues, TF, Djagbletey, G, Ford, A, Kemp, J, Marimon, BS, Hur Marimon Junior, B, Lenza, E, Ratter, JA, Maracahipes, L, Sasaki, D, Sonke, B, Zapfack, L, Taedoumg, H, Villarroel, D, Schwarz, M, Quesada, CA, Ishida, FY, Nardoto, GB, Affum-Baffoe, K, Arroyo, L, David BowmanDavid Bowman, Compaore, H, Davies, K, Diallo, A, Fyllas, NM, Gilpin, M, Hien, F, Johnson, M, Killeen, TJ, Metcalfe, D, Miranda, HS, Steininger, M, Thomson, J, Sykora, K, Mougin, E, Hiernaux, P, Bird, MI, Grace, J, Lewis, SL, Phillips, OL, J Lloyd

Background: There is no generally agreed classification scheme for the many different vegetation formation types occurring in the tropics. This hinders cross-continental comparisons and causes confusion as words such as ‘forest’ and ‘savanna’ have different meanings to different people. Tropical vegetation formations are therefore usually imprecisely and/or ambiguously defined in modelling, remote sensing and ecological studies.

Aims: To integrate observed variations in tropical vegetation structure and floristic composition into a single classification scheme.

Methods: Using structural and floristic measurements made on three continents, discrete tropical vegetation groupings were defined on the basis of overstorey and understorey structure and species compositions by using clustering techniques.

Results: Twelve structural groupings were identified based on height and canopy cover of the dominant upper stratum and the extent of lower-strata woody shrub cover and grass cover. Structural classifications did not, however, always agree with those based on floristic composition, especially for plots located in the forest–savanna transition zone. This duality is incorporated into a new tropical vegetation classification scheme.

Conclusions: Both floristics and stand structure are important criteria for the meaningful delineation of tropical vegetation formations, especially in the forest/savanna transition zone. A new tropical vegetation classification scheme incorporating this information has been developed.

Funding

Australian Research Council

History

Publication title

Plant Ecology and Diversity

Volume

6

Pagination

101-137

ISSN

1755-0874

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Place of publication

Oxfordshire, UK

Rights statement

Copyright 2013 Botanical Society of Scotland and Taylor & Francis

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Terrestrial biodiversity

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