Integrated synusial phytosociology: some notes on a new, multiscalar approach to vegetation analysis

The integrated synusial approach of the vegetation is based on the differentiation of several spatio-temporal organization levels. A phytocoenosis (community of the second level) is considered as a complex of synusiae (communities of the first level) and is characterised by a strong tendency to self organization. At each level, a typology of the communities can be performed. Ecological indicator values as well as different diversity indices are calculated for each vegetation unit. They are useful for understanding the spatial and temporal organization of the phytocoenoses. As an example, this approach is applied to wooded meadows.