Világ gyepjei egyesüljetek - Fontos gyepes cikk a Journal of Biogeography-ban

Egy kiváló cikk jelent meg a közelmúltban a J. of Biogeography hasábjain. A cikknek van azért egy nagy szépséghibája, tekintettel az, hogy nem vagyok benne társszerző :-). De a viccet félretéve szerintem gyepekkel foglalkozó szakemberek számára ez a tipológiai témájú cikk segítséget nyújt, hogy mit minek nevezzen és hova soroljon. A cikk letölthető a folyóirat honlapjáról (open access). A cikk absztraktja az alábbiakban olvasható.

Distribution mapping of world grassland types

A.P. Dixon, D. Faber-Langendoen, C. Josse, J. Morrison, C.J. Loucks

Aim National and international policy frameworks, such as the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, increasingly seek to conserve and reference ‘highly biodiverse grasslands’. However, to date there is no systematic global characterization and distribution map for grassland types. To address this gap, we first propose a systematic definition of grassland. We then integrate International Vegetation Classification (IVC) grassland types with the map of Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World (TEOW).

Location Global.

Methods We developed a broad definition of grassland as a distinct biotic and ecological unit, noting its similarity to savanna and distinguishing it from woodland and wetland. A grassland is defined as a non-wetland type with at least 10% vegetation cover, dominated or co-dominated by graminoid and forb growth forms, and where the trees form a single-layer canopy with either less than 10% cover and 5 m height (temperate) or less than 40% cover and 8 m height (tropical). We used the IVC division level to classify grasslands into major regional types. We developed an ecologically meaningful spatial catalogue of IVC grassland types by listing IVC grassland formations and divisions where grassland currently occupies, or historically occupied, at least 10% of an ecoregion in the TEOW framework.

Results We created a global biogeographical characterization of the Earth’s grassland types, describing approximately 75% of IVC grassland divisions with ecoregions. We mapped 49 IVC grassland divisions. Sixteen additional IVC grassland divisions are absent from the map because of the fine-scale distribution of these grassland types. 

Main conclusions The framework provided by our geographical mapping effort provides a systematic overview of grasslands and sets the stage for more detailed classification and mapping at finer scales. Each regional grassland type can be characterized in terms of its range of biodiversity, thereby assisting in future policy initiatives.