Other Contributions to Methodology

Abstract

Schmid (1940, 1948) introduced what he called chorological units or vegetation belts on his vegetation map of Switzerland. These belts are composed of species that occupy similar areas (Schmid, 1955). This approach is closely related to the Arealkunde by Meusel (1943). It is based on a careful investigation of the area occupied by every species of the country. By comparing these areas, it becomes evident that many species occupy the same area whereas other species are grouped together in another area. They seem to be mutually exclusive and form ‘belts’ which can extend over very long distances. For instance, Schmid sees certain belts reach throughout the Alpides from the Alps to the Himalaya Mountains and cites the larch-pine forests at the alpine timberline as an example, containing in its various parts such genera as Rhododendron, Vaccinium, Delphinium, Prenanthes, Aconitum, Anemone, Ranunculus, sometimes even the same species.