Vegetation classification is a complex and often subjective process, influenced by various perspectives. The 4th EDGG Field Workshop in Sicily highlighted these challenges, emphasizing the importance of collaborative observation and continuous refinement of ecological definitions in an ever-changing landscape.
The man standing on a slope of sunburnt clay, contemplating the classification of vegetation, knew that it was an act of faith disguised as method.Like all faiths, it required ritual and a shared language among its practitioners. Though, he also recognized that this faith was frequently enough betrayed by arithmetic limitations such as too few observers and too many species compressed into small plots.
In 2012, during the EDGG Field Workshop in Sicily, this unease led to the idea of inviting outsiders – Central and Northern European vegetation ecologists with different perspectives – to observe Mediterranean vegetation through their eyes. This experiment aimed to challenge preconceived notions about classifications and possibly lead to more honest interpretations.
The workshop took place on various substrates across the island including coastal sands, inland clays, volcanic soils, and evaporitic hills. Every terricolous autotrophic organism was recorded in small plots with intense scrutiny usually reserved for more anthropocentric ecosystems. This approach sparked technical and philosophical discussions about community identification.
Through this workshop’s collaborative efforts came new insights into Mediterranean vegetation classification. It became clear that there is no single correct way to classify vegetation; rather it is indeed a constantly evolving negotiation between climate, soil conditions disturbance events chance occurrences over time.
One example from the workshop involved two competing classifications for dry grasslands: Lygeo-Stipetea versus Stipo-Trachynietea or Ammophilion versus Alkanno-Maresion nanae. Through careful observation by both Central European ecologists accustomed to recording every detectable species within a plot (including mosses and lichens) as well as Mediterranean ecologists who focused on dominant plant species only, it was discovered that these classifications were not mutually exclusive. Instead, they represented different aspects of the same vegetation community.
This workshop also emphasized the importance of considering current statistics and examples in vegetation classification. By bringing together ecologists from different backgrounds and perspectives, new insights were gained and existing definitions were refined. This collaborative approach to observation and classification is crucial in an ever-changing landscape where traditional methods may no longer be sufficient.
the 4th EDGG Field Workshop in Sicily highlighted the complexities of vegetation classification while promoting a collaborative approach to observation and continuous refinement of ecological definitions. By challenging preconceived notions and incorporating diverse perspectives, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of our ever-evolving natural world.
The search for a suitable location for a nested plot in the dry grasslands on the eastern flank of Mt. Etna (Sant’Alfio) at 1200 m above sea level was captured by Iwona Dembicz in 2012. This photo serves as a reminder that the outcome of the 4th EDGG Field Workshop was not just a scientific paper,but also an experience of shared protocols,discussions,and new perspectives.
The story has been told before – analyses revealing higher diversity than expected, blurred boundaries where classification schemes promised clarity, and clusters that made ecological sense without offering metaphysical comfort. The separation between annual and perennial grasslands, so carefully upheld in Mediterranean sampling tradition, would not emerge cleanly when confronted with comprehensive data. And yet, this time it was different.
As the team gathered on Mt.Etna for the 4th EDGG Field Workshop, they were aware that objectivity in vegetation science is not an endpoint to be reached but rather a direction to strive towards.It is indeed like walking towards the horizon across Sicilian hills – one knows it will never be reached but still moves forward with determination.
The decision to organize an international field workshop may seem strategic or confident from an outsider’s viewpoint. However, it is actually an existential gesture – acknowledging that if classification is inherently subjective then multiple viewpoints must be considered; if approximation is inevitable then it should at least be done together.
In reality,vegetation does not care how it is classified.But vegetation ecologists do care deeply about their work and its impact on understanding biodiversity patterns and syntaxonomy.
New study:
The results and insights from this workshop were published by Guarino et al. () in their paper titled ”Dry grasslands of Sicily: Multi-taxon diversity and classification challenges” in the journal vegetation Classification and Survey. The authors, who had been working on this project for years, were able to articulate the tensions between objectivity and subjectivity in vegetation science with composure. They acknowledged both the power and limitations of any classification system.
The 4th EDGG Field Workshop was not just about producing a scientific paper. It was an experience of shared protocols, discussions, and new perspectives. This workshop confirmed a long-held suspicion that objectivity is not a destination but rather a direction to strive towards.
The decision to organize an international field workshop may seem strategic or confident from an outsider’s perspective. However, it is actually an existential gesture – acknowledging that if classification is inherently subjective then multiple viewpoints must be considered; if approximation is inevitable then it should at least be done together.
In reality, vegetation does not care how it is indeed classified. But vegetation ecologists do care deeply about their work and its impact on understanding biodiversity patterns and syntaxonomy.
New study:
If you are interested in learning more about how this diverse group of botanists combined their contrasting viewpoints into a joint perspective after thirteen years since their field sampling on Mt. Etna, please read Guarino et al.’s () paper titled “Dry grasslands of Sicily: Multi-taxon diversity and classification challenges” published in Vegetation Classification and Survey. Additionally,Dengler et al.’s () paper provides more details about their sampling methodology.
The EDGG Field Workshops have been instrumental in contributing to our understanding of the diversity patterns of Palaearctic open habitats. You can find more details about these workshops on the EDGG webpage at https://edgg.org/fw/overview. The grassplot Diversity Explorer (https://edgg.org/databases/GrasslandDiversityExplorer) is also a valuable resource for understanding the contributions of these workshops to our knowledge of biodiversity patterns.
Since its inception in 2009, there have been 21 EDGG Field Workshops, with many resulting in influential papers on biodiversity patterns and syntaxonomy.Such as, Turtureanu et al.’s () paper and Cancellieri et al.’s () paper both emerged from previous field workshops. In , two successful field workshops were held in Italy and Finland (Miskova et al., ). In there will be one or two more field workshops,including one in conjunction with the Eurasian Grassland Conference in Bulgaria (Vynokurov et al.,
References:
- Dengler, J., Becker, T., Ruprecht ERewritten Article:
The study conducted by Becker et al. (2012) focused on the Festuco-Brometea communities found in the Transylvanian Plateau of Romania. The research provided a preliminary overview of the syntaxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity of these grasslands. However, recent studies have shown that there is a need to reassess plant diversity and composition in grasslands across different spatial scales (Dengler et al., 2016). This led to the development of a standardized sampling methodology by EDGG (eurasian Dry Grassland Group) for assessing plant diversity and composition in grasslands.
In 2021, García-Mijangos et al. conducted a study on the Festuco-brometea communities in Navarre, Spain.Their research focused on classifying these grasslands using a hierarchical expert system and characterizing them based on their vegetation composition.
Another study by Guarino et al. (2012) explored the community composition and diversity of Mediterranean grasslands during the 4th EDGG Research Expedition to Sicily. They found that these dry grasslands are home to diverse plant species but also face classification challenges due to their multi-taxon nature.
In 2022, Guarino et al. published an article discussing how plant communities and synusiae can be used as tools for creating sustainable classifications for vegetation types.
A follow-up study by Guarino et al. (2025) focused specifically on dry grasslands in Sicily and examined their multi-taxon diversity while addressing classification challenges.
Miskova et al.’s (2025) research provided insights into the diversity of open habitats in Finland’s Turku Archipelago through observations made during an EDGG field Workshop held from June 28th to July 6th, 2025.
Turtureanu et al.’s (2014) study looked at scale- and taxon-dependent biodiversity patterns in dry grassland vegetation in Transylvania, Romania.
In 2024, Vynokurov et al. conducted a study on the dry grasslands and thorn-cushion communities of armenia,providing a first syntaxonomic classification for these vegetation types.
The EDGG field Workshop held in pirin Mountains, Bulgaria from July 14th to 18th, 2026 was announced by Vynokurov et al. (2025).
these studies highlight the importance of reassessing plant diversity and composition in grasslands across different spatial scales and developing standardized methodologies for their assessment. They also emphasize the need for sustainable classifications that take into account the multi-taxon nature of these ecosystems.
Fascinating read, can’t wait to learn more about the plant life on the island!