@booklet {451, title = {Guidelines for describing associations and alliances of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification}, year = {2003}, publisher = {Panel on Vegetation Classification of The Ecological Society of America}, abstract = {The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for describing and classifying plant associations and alliances as formally recognized units of vegetation within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (NVC), a regional component of the International Vegetation Classification (NatureServe 2003). The guidelines are intended to be used by anyone proposing additions, deletions, or other changes to the named units of the NVC. By setting forth guidelines for field records, analysis, description, peer review, archiving, and dissemination, the Ecological Society of America{\textquoteright}s Vegetation Classification Panel, in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee, NatureServe, the U.S. Geological Survey, and others, seeks to advance our common understanding of vegetation and improve our capability to sustain this resource. We begin by articulating the rationale for developing these guidelines and then briefly review the history and development of vegetation classification in the United States. The guidelines for floristic units of vegetation include definitions of the association and alliance concepts. This is followed by a description of the requirements for field plot records and the identification and classification of vegetation types. Guidelines for peer review of proposed additions and revisions of types are provided, as is a structure for data access and management. Since new knowledge and insight will inevitably lead to the need for improvements to the guidelines described here, this document has been written with the expectation that it will be revised with new versions produced as needed. Recommendations for revisions should be addressed to the Panel Chair, Vegetation Classification Panel, Ecological Society of America, Suite 400, 735 H St, NW, Washington, DC. Email contact information can be found at http://www.esa.org/vegweb or contact the Ecological Society of America{\textquoteright}s Science Program Office, 1707 H St, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006, Telephone: (202) 833-8773. The authors of this document work as volunteers in the service of the Ecological Society of America and the professional opinions expressed by them in this document are not necessarily those of the institutions that employ them.}, author = {Jennings, M. D. and Loucks, O. and Glenn-Lewin, D. and Peet, R. and Faber-Langendoen, D. and Grossman, D. and Damman, A. and Barbour, M. and Pfister, R. and Walker, M. and Talbot, S. and Walker, J. and Hartshorn, G. and Waggoner, G. and Abrams, M. and Brown, D. and Hill, A. and Roberts, D. and Tart, D. and Rejmanek, M.} } @booklet {452, title = {Standards for Associations and Alliances of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Version 1.0}, year = {2002}, publisher = {Vegetation Classification Panel of the Ecological Society of America}, abstract = {The purpose of this document is to provide both a technical and a general basis for describing and classifying the plant associations and alliances that are to be formally recognized as units of vegetation under the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (NVC). It should be useful to practitioners, researchers, and students of vegetation ecology. The standards presented here are to be used by anybody proposing additions, deletions, or other changes to the named units of the NVC. By implementing standards for field sampling, analysis, description, peer review, archiving, and dissemination, the Ecological Society of America{\textquoteright}s Vegetation Classification Panel-in collaboration with the Federal Geographic Data Committee, NatureServe, the U.S. Geological Survey, and others-intends to advance our common understanding of vegetation and improve our capability to sustain this resource by formal, science-based processes. We begin with the rationale for developing these standards. Then the history and development of vegetation classification in the United States is briefly reviewed. Standards for establishing and revising the floristic units of vegetation include the definition of association and alliance concepts, requirements for vegetation field plots, and classification and description of associations and alliances. A standard framework for peer review of types that are proposed for inclusion in the National Vegetation Classification is provided, as is a structure for data access and management. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of future prospects of and new directions in vegetation classification. Because new knowledge will inevitably lead to the need for improvements to the standards described here, this document is written with the intention that it will be revised, with new versions produced as needed. Recommendations for revisions should be addressed to the Panel Chair, Vegetation Classification Panel, Ecological Society of America, Suite 400, 735 H St, NW, Washington, DC. Email contact information can be found at www.esa.org/vegwebpg.htm or contact the Ecological Society of America{\textquoteright}s Science Program Office, 1707 H St, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006, Telephone: (202) 833-8773.}, author = {Jennings, M. D. and Loucks, O. and Glenn-Lewin, D. and Peet, R. K. and Faber-Langendoen, D. and Grossman, D. and Damman, A. and Barbour, M. and Pfister, R. and Walker, M. and Talbot, S. and Walker, J. and Hartshorn, G. and Waggoner, G. and Abrams, M. and Hill, A. and Roberts, D. and Tart, D.} }