The influence of Minnesota's quantitative native plant community classification on the development of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification

Background/Question/Methods

The U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) is a hierarchical classification of existing vegetation. NatureServe, the steward of the USNVC, used several different state ecological classifications to help describe and delineate vegetation communities across the Midwest. Minnesota's state native plant community classification was developed using extensive plot data within the state, which greatly enhanced the amount of data available to update and revise the USNVC types within Minnesota and across the region.

Results/Conclusions

Using plot data associated with Minnesota's plant community classification, along with data from other states, Minnesota state and NatureServe regional ecologists increased the accuracy of described vegetation communities in the USNVC. In those cases where Minnesota's classification didn't directly inform the USNVC, ecologists linked the two classifications by crosswalking the units. Establishing a clear link between the USNVC and state classifications has been critical to expand vegetation classification work regionally and across the U.S.