Geobotany and range ecology: a convergence of thought?

Rangeland ecologists, particularly those in North America, have traditionally worked with a paradigm founded on the notion of Clementsian succession. This is increasingly being called into question. New ideas (notably from Australia, the U.S.A. and South Africa) have begun to emerge which see rangeland changes occurring as a result of grazing management, habitat type and episodic events. New methods for assessing vegetation dynamics have been put forward which approach the older techniques favoured by plant sociological geobotanists. This paper explores the basis for current and past thinking in rangeland ecology and the potential application of geobotany to rangeland inventory and monitoring. A case study from semi-arid northern Iran is used to illustrate the way in which site potential can be characterised by using soil-based and plant-based attributes.