Symposium topics
Ecosystem-focused topics
Anthropogenic ecosystems
Central-European grasslands
Cold-driven ecosystems
Drought-driven ecosystems
Fire-prone ecosystems
Freshwater ecosystems
Tropical ecosystems
Cross-cutting topics across ecosystems
Community assembly
Earth Observation of vegetation
Long-term vegetation dynamics
Plant community interactions
Seed regeneration of plant communities
Short term vegetation dynamics
Urban plant communities
Vegetation databases
Vegetation restoration
SPECIAL SESSIONS
Bringing the different vegetation classification approaches together
Organizers: J. Capello, C. Marcenò, D. Vynokurov
Description
This session is sponsored by the IAVS Vegetation Classification Working Group with the aim of connecting different vegetation classification systems used globally. Targeted approaches include Braun-Blanquet phytosociology, EcoVeg, national habitat schemes, global biome and ecoregion maps, phylogenetically informed classifications and related frameworks. We invite presentations that provide comparative analyses, evaluate consistency across systems or develop integrative tools using vegetation-plot or trait data. Contributions may range from local to global scales. While we particularly welcome integrative and comparative studies, all contributions dealing with vegetation classification are welcome. (This special session will be used as a basis for assembling a Special Collection of articles in Vegetation Classification and Survey).
Impact of Military Conflicts on vegetation and habitats
Organizers: A. Kuzemko, S. Saura Mas
Description
This session will address the specific impacts and threats posed by military conflicts to natural ecosystems, focusing particularly on vegetation and habitats. Key areas of discussion will include the devastating effect of fires on forest and open ecosystems and the significant role of armed conflicts in facilitating the spread of alien invasive plant species. Attention will be paid to the application of remote sensing methods to accurately assess vegetation and habitat dynamics in regions subjected to military conflicts. Finally, the session will examine the methodological approaches for documenting the initial (baseline) state of habitats, which is essential for reliably assessing the full extent of the damage caused.
Integrating intraspecific trait variability into vegetation science for improved ecological predictions
Organizers: G. Puglielli, A. Bricca, S. Chelli, F. Petruzzelis, E. Tordoni
Description
Understanding and predicting plant community patterns and processes requires integrating the complementary strengths of vegetation science and trait-based ecology. However, approaches favored by recent advances in vegetation-plot networks (e.g. EVA, sPlot) and trait databases (e.g. TRY, BIEN) often overlook Intraspecific Trait Variability (ITV). Since ITV modulates how individuals and populations respond to environmental changes, its integration into vegetation science is crucial to detect mechanistic ecological patterns and improve predictions of species fitness and community assembly across spatial and temporal scales. This special session invites contributions that emphasize how ITV enhances the accuracy and realism of ecological predictions, especially relevant in the context of ongoing global environmental changes.
Mechanisms of stability: from individuals to ecosystems
Organizers: J. Gresse, A. Lisner
Description
Environmental fluctuations continuously challenge the stability of ecological systems. Understanding the mechanisms that buffer plant populations and communities against such variability is therefore fundamental, both for advancing ecological theory and for improving predictions under ongoing global change. This special session aims to bring together researchers addressing stability at multiple levels of biological organization, from individuals and populations to communities and ecosystems. We seek to identify and synthesize mechanistic insights into how stability emerges, is maintained, or breaks down. The session will explore how functional traits, demographic strategies, and interaction networks contribute to buffering ecological systems against environmental fluctuations, inviting contributions that combine theoretical, experimental, and observational perspectives.
Plant biogeography and macroecology in a changing world
Organizers: G. Bonari, J. Padullés-Cubino
Description
Understanding large-scale vegetation patterns requires integrating community-level observations with emerging biogeographic and macroecological perspectives. Recent advances in vegetation-plot networks, phylogenetic resources, and global taxonomic databases allow us to explore how plant communities are structured, how species co-occurrence patterns arise, and how vegetation reorganizes across regions under contemporary environmental change. Yet many open questions remain about the processes that shape community composition at broad spatial scales and the general principles that govern vegetation turnover. This session invites contributions that use comparative, synthetic, or theory-driven approaches to explain where and why particular plant assemblages occur, and whether and how vegetation patterns shift in a rapidly changing world.
Scaling laws in (vegetation) ecology
Organizers: J. Dengler, A. Chiarucci, B. Peet
Description
Scaling laws are ubiquitous in ecology. Ignoring them can lead to wrong conclusions when results from different scales are compared, while using them consciously can reveal underlying mechanisms of vegetation. Scaling laws are rooted in ecological theory and are also important in applied vegetation studies. While species-area relationships (SARs) are probably the most widely studied scaling law in ecology, there are many other similar phenomena that are often interconnected. This special session invites contributions testing how biodiversity metrics, diversity-environment relationships, patterns of predictability/stability or any other community characteristic change systematically with scale, including studies on spatial/temporal beta diversity. In addition to empirical research papers, we welcome simulation studies and theoretical-conceptual contributions. (This Special Session is connected to a Special Feature in Journal of Vegetation Science).
The Hidden Half: emerging questions in belowground functional ecology
Organizers: J. Klimešova, G. Santos da Silva and F. Curtis Lubbe
Description
Belowground components of vegetation systems play a central role in determining plant performance, species coexistence, and ecosystem functioning. Besides stems, trunks, and leaves, many plants have specialized belowground organs that allow persistence, survival of different stresses, and maintenance of aboveground parts. Bud banks are linked to plant persistence, regeneration, and aboveground abundance. Storage, as carbohydrates and other resources, is vital for disturbance response, seasonal dormancy, and stress tolerance. Morphology and anatomy link these topics by assessing how these strategies are built into the plant body. This session aims to bring together scientists working on functional traits of belowground storage organs at the species and community level, providing an integrative perspective on key related topics.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstract submission
Abstract submissions are closed.
Instructions
- Abstracts for either oral or poster presentations must be submitted through the online application.
- The main text of abstracts is restricted to 250 words.
- Each participant can submit and present only one abstract (a talk or a poster) as the lead author.
- Please indicate if you wish to present a talk or a poster during the abstract submission.
Scientific topics
Submissions shall be assigned by authors to one of the pre-selected scientific topics or the special sessions (select “Other” if your presentation does not fit with any topic).
The Scientific Committee will evaluate the abstracts and will assign them to the preferred topic or to another one according to the time available for each session. The Committee may also decide to switch the presentation type (from oral to poster, or vice versa).
Format of posters and talks
Poster sessions
Poster presentations will be held on:
- Tuesday 23 (odd-numbered posters)
- Thursday 25 (even-numbered posters)
Time: 16:30–18:30
Cold drinks and light refreshments will be provided during the sessions.
Poster guidelines:
- Posters must be printed on paper.
- Maximum dimensions (portrait): 80 cm (width) × 120 cm (height) or A0 standard (portrait).
- Materials for mounting your poster will be available at the Welcome Desk — please collect them in advance.
- Posters must be removed on Friday 26.
Oral presentations
- Each presentation is allocated 20 minutes total, (including 15 minutes for presentation and 3–5 minutes for discussion).
- Presentations must be delivered in English.
- Please prepare your slides using Microsoft PowerPoint (16:9 format preferred). The use of the template provided on the website is recommended.
A link for uploading your presentation will be provided to speakers in advance
YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD
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