The meaning of vegetation classification for ecology
1 Institute of Biology, Ufa Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Science
Prosperkt Oktyabrya 69, Ufa 450054
2 Bashkir State Pedagogical University id. Oktyabrskoi Revolutsii 3a, Ufa 450000
e-mail: geobot@bashnet.ru
Eco-floristic classification (Brawn-Blanquet system) is useful since in similar manner it can establish ecological units of different level (syntaxons) that have high indicative value. Syntaxons can be used as markers of terrestrial ecosystems of different range. Although this system was proposed by analogy with plant taxonomy it reflects vegetation continuum. The application of this approach is based on certain standards and supported by developed software. The elements of arbitrariness in Brawn-Blanquet method are constrained by rules of strict recommendations. The method is considered as necessary in studies of biodiversity in protected areas.
