TY - JOUR

T1 - On the theoretical concept of the potential natural vegetation and proposals for an up-to-date modification

AU - Härdtle, Werner

PY - 1995/9/1

Y1 - 1995/9/1

N2 - In the extent to which it is used, the concept of the potential natural vegetation (PNV) is one of the most successful novelties in vegetation science over the last decades. However, previous applications of the concept have shown that the theoretical principles were used inconsistently or interpreted in an incorrect sense. The present problems in application (which become evident when visualizing historical aspects of the concept) mainly result from (a) inconsistent treatment of the construction criteria; (b) failure to distinguish between the "potential natural vegetation", the "reconstructed natural vegetation" and the vegetation developing during succession, (c) the lack of a precise definition for reference terms to construct potential natural vegetation (e.g. treating reversible vs. irreversible changes of vegetation). For a sensible application of the concept it is suggested (a) to construct the potential natural vegetation on the basis of natural site conditions as well as permanently effective site changes as a consequence of human impact, (b) to consider the PNV to be in balance with all site conditions taken as basis for its construction. In practice, however, the construction basis may also derive from a particular question underlying the making of a PNV-map. A suggestion for a re-definition of the term "potential natural vegetation" as well as a key for PNV-mapping (valid for landscapes of Northern Germany) are given.

AB - In the extent to which it is used, the concept of the potential natural vegetation (PNV) is one of the most successful novelties in vegetation science over the last decades. However, previous applications of the concept have shown that the theoretical principles were used inconsistently or interpreted in an incorrect sense. The present problems in application (which become evident when visualizing historical aspects of the concept) mainly result from (a) inconsistent treatment of the construction criteria; (b) failure to distinguish between the "potential natural vegetation", the "reconstructed natural vegetation" and the vegetation developing during succession, (c) the lack of a precise definition for reference terms to construct potential natural vegetation (e.g. treating reversible vs. irreversible changes of vegetation). For a sensible application of the concept it is suggested (a) to construct the potential natural vegetation on the basis of natural site conditions as well as permanently effective site changes as a consequence of human impact, (b) to consider the PNV to be in balance with all site conditions taken as basis for its construction. In practice, however, the construction basis may also derive from a particular question underlying the making of a PNV-map. A suggestion for a re-definition of the term "potential natural vegetation" as well as a key for PNV-mapping (valid for landscapes of Northern Germany) are given.

KW - Biology

KW - biotic potential

KW - Climax theory

KW - Climax vegetation

KW - Man-made changes to environment

KW - succession

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=51249165457&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/b69a0bcb-7c6a-375c-9781-4f1c88033c13/

U2 - 10.1007/BF02803708

DO - 10.1007/BF02803708

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 30

SP - 263

EP - 276

JO - Folia Geobotanica

JF - Folia Geobotanica

SN - 1211-9520

IS - 3

ER -