Collections

Vegetation classification is the process of organizing plant communities into categories based on shared characteristics such as species composition, structure, functional traits, and ecological functions. The classification of vegetation types helps to identify patterns, relationships, and the underlying processes that shape plant community distributions across different landscapes.  Vegetation is typically classified into various levels, ranging from broad types (like forests, grasslands, wetlands, phytosociological classes or orders) to more specific types (like beech forests, peat bogs, phytosociological alliances or associations).  

The value of vegetation classification has grown significantly in recent years due to the increasing urgency of environmental challenges. Vegetation classification plays a crucial role for basic and applied research in the context of ecological studies, conservation efforts as well as for environmental management. As ecosystems face threats from climate change, deforestation, and urbanization, understanding the composition and ecology of different vegetation types is crucial for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem stability, for guiding ecological restoration projects and for selecting the types of vegetation that can thrive in degraded areas.

This Topical Collection invites contributions that explore all aspects of vegetation classification in the context of different terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, in a specific region or across different regions or time periods. These may include studies on the description and classification of vegetation types dominated by or co-dominated both by native and alien plants, including information about their indicator species and ecological features. Furthermore, the collection encompasses both classical and numeral approach to vegetation classification, but also a vegetation classification that define vegetation types using also functional traits and ecological indices/data linked to the role that different species play within a community. Finally, contributions are welcomed that establish formalized standard procedures with the aim of promoting methodological standardization in classification.

Vegetation classification is the process of organizing plant communities into categories based on shared characteristics such as species composition, structure, functional traits, and ecological functions. The classification of vegetation types helps to identify patterns, relationships, and the unde ...

Remote sensing is a powerful and versatile technology that involves the acquisition of information about the Earth's surface, utilizing various platforms such as satellites, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A variety of sensors capture data across different spectral bands, enabling detailed observation and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems. This technology has revolutionized the field of vegetation ecology by providing the means to monitor, analyze, and manage vegetation across large spatial scales with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. One of the main advantages of remote sensing in vegetation studies is its ability to collect information over extensive areas that are often inaccessible or impractical to survey through traditional field methods. This capability is particularly crucial for large-scale ecological studies, change detection, habitat mapping, and monitoring biodiversity. Remote sensing technology also offers high temporal resolution, allowing for continuous and repeatable observations that are essential for tracking changes in vegetation dynamics over time. Furthermore, image processing techniques enable the integration of multi-spectral and hyper-spectral data, which can reveal detailed information about vegetation health, species composition, and ecological processes. This Topical Collection aims to compile cutting-edge research that leverages remote sensing for vegetation ecology. We invite contributions that focus on recent methods for vegetation classification, vegetation mapping of habitats, and advancements in phytosociology enhanced by remote sensing techniques. Additionally, studies that employ both satellite and UAV imagery to develop innovative methods and applications in vegetation analysis are highly encouraged. Through this collection of papers, we hope to showcase the latest advancements in remote sensing technology and its transformative impact on the study and management of vegetation.

Remote sensing is a powerful and versatile technology that involves the acquisition of information about the Earth's surface, utilizing various platforms such as satellites, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A variety of sensors capture data across different spectral bands, enabling det ...

Biological invasions are widely recognized as an important component of human-induced global environmental change, and invasive alien species (IAS) have been listed among the causes of habitat decline and loss. Vascular plants are one of the most investigated taxonomic groups in the field of invasive biology. However, their patterns and co-occurrence dynamics have only recently come into the spotlight, along with the factors driving alien plant assemblages. The abundance and dominance of alien species seem to have a more relevant influence on plant communities than the number of alien species, and some authors have started to qualify and quantify the role of alien species in different vegetation and habitat types.

However, to date, studies specifically investigating alien-dominated plant communities are limited, while the majority are still mostly focused on natural and semi-natural phytocoenoses with few or no aliens.

This Topical Collection welcomes studies dealing with all aspects of alien plant species occurrence at the community level, such as the description and classification of vegetation types dominated or co-dominated by alien plants, studies on ecological processes involving alien species, investigations into the functional role of alien species in the communities, assessment of the impacts (positive, neutral, or negative) that alien species can have on other components of biodiversity (e.g., pollinators), and contributions analyzing threats from alien species to the conservation of relevant vegetation and habitat types. Furthermore, the first checklist of alien-dominated vegetation in Italy, published in 2020, can be implemented and updated.

Biological invasions are widely recognized as an important component of human-induced global environmental change, and invasive alien species (IAS) have been listed among the causes of habitat decline and loss. Vascular plants are one of the most investigated taxonomic groups in the field of invasiv ...

In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to achieve universal benefits with the motto "NO ONE LEFT BEHIND," it is crucial for plant scientists to bridge the existing knowledge gaps in habitats and associated species distribution. In this context, the Habitats Directive (European Directive 92/43/EEC) stands as one of the most comprehensive tools for the management and conservation of our natural legacy.

Building on the substantial progress made over the past half-decade in the implementation of the Habitats Directive by the journal Plant Sociology, this Topical Collection intends to establish a repository for even more significant and synergistic efforts in the future. It emphasizes enhanced collaboration from plant scientists across EU Member States, ensuring a wider and more collective approach to conservation efforts.

With this Topical Collection, our goal is to dedicate the remaining half-decade until 2030—a pivotal new milestone for the future of our planet—towards establishing a scientific platform dedicated to a series of articles concerning the Habitats Directive, with a particular focus on the distribution and monitoring of Annex I habitats.

The Topical Collection will include "New Habitat Records," following the style and content of the already published contributions. For a model and the data sources, see Annex I in the paper https://doi.org/10.7338/pls2019561/04.

In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to achieve universal benefits with the motto "NO ONE LEFT BEHIND," it is crucial for plant scientists to bridge the existing knowledge gaps in habitats and associated species distribution. In this context, the Habitats Directive (European Di ...