The phytoclimates of France: probabilistic classification of 1874 bio-indicators of the climate

This article presents a synthesis of the relationships between plants and climates at the scale of France, based on a probabilistic classification of 1874 bio-indicators. This classification defines plants groups that indicate the climate, named phytoclimates, expressing the climatic gradients in France. This classification shows 210 phytoclimatic groups distributed into ten cluster levels. The analysis of the various hierarchical levels shows two main phytoclimates testifying the importance of the marine masses and the altitude. The analysis of the third hierarchical level underlines particular phytoclimates which would not be easily recognizable by only analysing the overlapping of floristic and climatic territories. This classification allows one to select taxa that are indicators of the climate. The distribution monitoring or modeling of these taxa should show the effects of the global change on the ecosystems. To cite this article: E. Garbolino et al., C R. Biologies 331 (2008). (C) 2008 Academie des sciences. Publie par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.