关键词: 草原类型, 分类, 聚类

Abstract: The classifying and clustering are equally important in grassland classification,based on this the idea the Integrated Orderly Classification System of Grassland(IOCSG) has been set up and follow six principles,namely,the Framework for a grassland classification system,Comprehensiveness of a grassland classification system,Relative stability of parameters used in grassland classification,Comparability of parameter stability at a given level of classification,Definitive power of parameters in grassland classification and Universality of a grassland classification system.The IOCSG contains three main levels.'Class',categories with moisture and temperature as their index;'sub-class',categories characterized by their edaphic conditions and 'types',classified according to their vegetation conditions.The IOCSG also contains seven thermal ranks and six humidity grades.According to the IOCSG 42 classes of natural grasslands may be identified globally and 41 of them present in China.The authors also investigated the IOCSG practical values in dealing with determining the habitat adaptive of species,prediction of evolution direction of grassland succession due to global changes and turf species introduction.The paper further enforces the significant influences of the grassland classification research on the grassland sciences in their fundamentals and practice.

Key words: Grassland type, Classfication, Cluster