Distribution maps of vegetation alliances in Europe
Authors: Preislerová Zdenka , Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Mucina Ladislav , Berg Christian , Bonari Gianmaria , Kuzemko Anna , Landucci Flavia , Marcenò Corrado , Monteiro‐Henriques Tiago , Novák Pavel , Vynokurov Denys , Bergmeier Erwin , Dengler Jürgen , Apostolova Iva , Bioret Frederic , Biurrun Idoia , Campos Juan Antonio , Capelo Jorge , Čarni Andraž , Çoban Süleyman , Csiky János , Ćuk Mirjana , Ćušterevska Renata , Daniëls Fred J.A. , De Sanctis Michele , Didukh Yakiv , Dítě Daniel , Fanelli Giuliano , Golovanov Yaroslav , Golub Valentin , Guarino Riccardo , Hájek Michal , Iakushenko Dmytro , Indreica Adrian , Jansen Florian , Jašková Anni , Jiroušek Martin , Kalníková Veronika , Kavgacı Ali , Kucherov Ilya , Küzmič Filip , Lebedeva Maria , Loidi Javier , Lososová Zdeňka , Lysenko Tatiana , Milanović Đorđije , Onyshchenko Viktor , Perrin Gwenhael , Peterka Tomáš , Rašomavičius Valerijus , Rodríguez‐Rojo María Pilar , Rodwell John S. , Rūsiņa Solvita , Sánchez‐Mata Daniel , Schaminée Joop H.J. , Semenishchenkov Yuri , Shevchenko Nikolay , Šibík Jozef , Škvorc Željko , Smagin Viktor , Stešević Danijela , Stupar Vladimir , Šumberová Kateřina , Theurillat Jean‐Paul , Tikhonova Elena , Tzonev Rossen , Valachovič Milan , Vassilev Kiril , Willner Wolfgang , Yamalov Sergey , Večeřa Martin , Chytrý Milan 
Published: January 2022

Aim

The first comprehensive checklist of European phytosociological alliances, orders and classes (EuroVegChecklist) was published by Mucina et al. (2016, Applied Vegetation Science, 19 (Suppl. 1), 3–264). However, this checklist did not contain detailed information on the distribution of individual vegetation types. Here we provide the first maps of all alliances in Europe.

Location

Europe, Greenland, Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cyprus and the Caucasus countries.

Methods

We collected data on the occurrence of phytosociological alliances in European countries and regions from literature and vegetation‐plot databases. We interpreted and complemented these data using the expert knowledge of an international team of vegetation scientists and matched all the previously reported alliance names and concepts with those of the EuroVegChecklist. We then mapped the occurrence of the EuroVegChecklist alliances in 82 territorial units corresponding to countries, large islands, archipelagos and peninsulas. We subdivided the mainland parts of large or biogeographically heterogeneous countries based on the European biogeographical regions. Specialized alliances of coastal habitats were mapped only for the coastal section of each territorial unit.

Results

Distribution maps were prepared for 1,105 alliances of vascular‐plant dominated vegetation reported in the EuroVegChecklist. For each territorial unit, three levels of occurrence probability were plotted on the maps: (a) verified occurrence; (b) uncertain occurrence; and (c) absence. The maps of individual alliances were complemented by summary maps of the number of alliances and the alliance–area relationship. Distribution data are also provided in a spreadsheet.

Conclusions

The new map series represents the first attempt to characterize the distribution of all vegetation types at the alliance level across Europe. There are still many knowledge gaps, partly due to a lack of data for some regions and partly due to uncertainties in the definition of some alliances. The maps presented here provide a basis for future research aimed at filling these gaps.