Chilean vegetation in the context of the Braun-Blanquet approach and a comparison with EcoVeg formations

Abstract

Aims: The Braun-Blanquet approach has been widely implemented to generate classification schemes at the country level and Chile is not an exception. In spite of numerous studies, a revised system for the whole country is still missing and most of the current surveys are restricted to a small set of vegetation groups or specific study sites. To fill this gap, we established a vegetation-plot database and updated the classification into a single syntaxonomic scheme. We also performed a comparison of this scheme with the formation system following the EcoVeg approach. Study area: Continental Chile. Methods: We compiled a database of 1,582 plot observations, which are classified into 29 classes, 43 orders, 65 alliances, and 162 associations according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. Results: These observations were assigned to 7 formation classes, 10 subclasses and 19 formations in the EcoVeg approach. There are several mismatches between phytosociological classes and EcoVeg formations, which indicates some inconsistencies in the current stage of syntaxonomy in Chile. Besides a big contrast on bioclimatic conditions within the country’s territory, the occurrence of intrazonal vegetation may explain the high diversity of phytosociological associations recorded in this database. Conclusions: This work may constitute the basis for the implementation of the EcoVeg classification at the levels of alliance and association and can be extended for other countries in the South American sub-continent.