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Aims Vegetation classification consistent with the Braun-Blanquet approach is widely used in Europe for applied vegetation science, conservation planning and land management. During the long history of syntaxonomy, many concepts and names of vegetation units have been proposed, but there has been no single classification system integrating these units. Here we (1) present a comprehensive, hierarchical, syntaxonomic system of alliances, orders and classes of Braun-Blanquet syntaxonomy for vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen, and algal communities of Europe; (2) briefly characterize in ecological and geographic terms accepted syntaxonomic concepts; (3) link available synonyms to these accepted concepts; and (4) provide a list of diagnostic species for all classes. Location European mainland, Greenland, Arctic archipelagos (including Iceland, Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya), Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Caucasus, Cyprus. Methods We evaluated approximately 10 000 bibliographic sources to create a comprehensive list of previously proposed syntaxonomic units. These units were evaluated by experts for their floristic and ecological distinctness, clarity of geographic distribution and compliance with the nomenclature code. Accepted units were compiled into three systems of classes, orders and alliances (EuroVegChecklist, EVC) for communities dominated by vascular plants ( EVC1), bryophytes and lichens ( EVC2) and algae ( EVC3). Results EVC1 includes 109 classes, 300 orders and 1108 alliances; EVC2 includes 27 classes, 53 orders and 137 alliances, and EVC3 includes 13 classes, 24 orders and 53 alliances. In total 13 448 taxa were assigned as indicator species to classes of EVC1, 2087 to classes of EVC2 and 368 to classes of EVC3. Accepted syntaxonomic concepts are summarized in a series of appendices, and detailed information on each is accessible through the software tool EuroVegBrowser. Conclusions This paper features the first comprehensive and critical account of European syntaxa and synthesizes more than 100 yr of classification effort by European phytosociologists. It aims to document and stabilize the concepts and nomenclature of syntaxa for practical uses, such as calibration of habitat classification used by the European Union, standardization of terminology for environmental assessment, management and conservation of nature areas, landscape planning and education. The presented classification systems provide a baseline for future development and revision of European syntaxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Steep environmental gradients, coupled with predicted high temperature rises in the Arctic make arctic mountain vegetation highly suitable for surveillance of changes related to global warming. However, guidelines and baselines for such a purpose are widely lacking since arctic mountain vegetation has been little explored. Aims:We explore options for long-term surveillance on the basis of a detailed analysis of extant plant community patterns and their underlying environmental conditions in the mountainous inland of West Greenland. Methods:Distribution, abundance and site conditions of vegetation types were analysed, using 664 vegetation samples and detailed vegetation maps in four altitudinal belts. Results:Most plant communities had a restricted elevation distribution and were confined to special habitats predominantly defined by mesotopography and soil moisture. Conclusions:Based on the strong linkage to habitat conditions, horizontal and vertical changes of species distribution and vegetation pattern are excellent indicators for inferring underlying environmental changes on three different scales. The recommendations given concerning climate sensitive species and plant communities, ecotones for setting up observation sites as well as stratification of analysis by habitats can be the basis for establishing long-term surveillance programmes on arctic mountain vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Plant communities of Unalaska Island in the eastern Aleutian Islands of western Alaska, and their relationship to environmental variables, were studied using a combined Braun-Blanquet and multivariate approach. Seventy relevés represented the range of structural and compositional variation in the matrix of vegetation and landform zonation. Eleven major community types were distinguished within six physiognomic–ecological groups: I. Dry coastal meadows: Honckenya peploides beach meadow, Leymus mollis dune meadow. II. Mesic meadows: Athyrium filix-femina – Aconitum maximum meadow, Athyrium filix-femina – Calamagrostis nutkaensis meadow, Erigeron peregrinus – Thelypteris quelpaertensis meadow. III. Wet snowbed meadow: Carex nigricans snowbed meadow. IV. Heath: Linnaea borealis – Empetrum nigrum heath, Phyllodoce aleutica heath, Vaccinium uliginosum – Thamnolia vermicularis fellfield. V. Mire: Carex pluriflora – Plantago macrocarpa mire. VI. Deciduous shrub thicket: Salix barclayi – Athyrium filix-femina thicket. These were interpreted as a complex gradient primarily influenced by soil moisture, elevation, and pH. Phytogeographical and syntaxonomical analysis of the plant communities indicated that the dry coastal meadows, most of the heaths, and the mire vegetation belonged, respectively, to the widespread classes Honckenyo–Elymetea, Loiseleurio–Vaccinietea, and Scheuchzerio–Caricetea, characterized by their circumpolar and widespread species. Amphi-Beringian species were likely diagnostic of amphi-Beringian syntaxa, many of these yet to be described. Les auteurs ont étudié les communautés végétales de l'île Unalaska dans l'est des îles Aléoutiennes de l'Ouest, ainsi que leurs relations avec les variables environnementales, en utilisant une combinaison des approches de Braun-Blanquet et multivariée. Plusieurs relevés représentent l'amplitude de la variation des structures et de la composition dans le zonage de la matrice de végétation et du paysage. Les auteurs ont identifié 12 types majeurs de communautés dans six groupes écolo-physiognomiques : I. Prairies côtières sèches : prairie côtière à Honckenya peploides, prairie dunaire à Leymus mollis II. Prairies mésiques : prairie à Athyrium filix-femina – Aconitum maximum, prairie à Athyrium filix-femina – Calamagrostis nutkaensis, prairie à Erigeron peregrinus – Thelypteris quelpaertensis; III. Prairies humides à congère de neige à Carex nigricans; IV. ricacaie : éricacaie à Linnaea borealis – Empetrum nigrum, éricacaie à Phyllodoce aleutica, champ d'abattis à Vaccinium uliginosum – Thamnolia vermicularis; V. Tourbière : tourbière à Carex pluriflora – Plantago macrocarpa, et VI. Fourrée arbustive décidue : fourrée à Salix barclayi – Athyrium filix-femina. Les auteurs interprètent ces communautés comme un gradient complexe influencé par l'humidité du sol, l'élévation, et le pH. Les analyses phytogéographiques et syntaxonomiques des communautés végétales indiquent que les prairies côtières, la plupart des éricacaies, et la végétation de tourbière appartiennent respectivement aux classes largement répandues des Honckenyo–Elymetea, Loiseleurio–Vaccinietea et Scheuchzerio–Caricetea, caractérisées par leurs espèces circumpolaires largement répandues. Les espèces amphi-Béringiennes constituent probablement un diagnostic des syntaxons amphi-Béringiens, dont plusieurs restent à décrire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]