Mapping Systems of Dynamically Related Communities

Abstract

A sigmetum, as described in Chap. 6, is a local assemblage of all the communities that have the potential to develop toward a particular single climax. A geosigmetum is the system of multiple sigmeta along a gradient, which in a landscape may correspond to a catena. Synphytosociology is the phytosociology of sigmeta, i.e. the analytical classification, by phytosociological principles, of these related communities (sigmeta). Geo-synphytosociology is the phytosociology of geosigmeta. There is no simple vocabulary for these concepts in English, other than these rather long, Greek-based terms from phytosociology. The term catenal vegetation cartography, though, or catenal vegetation mapping, may suggest what is involved.