Abstract Question We address the following questions: (1) which are the main plant communities in montane grasslands in central Argentina; (2) do those communities differ in terms of floristic composition, endemisms, chorotypes and life forms; and (3) which are the major environmental variables (climatic, topographic and edaphic) associated with the heterogeneity of the vegetation? Location Pampean Mountains (Sierras Pampeanas), Córdoba Province, central Argentina, an area of ca. 37,000 km 2 . Methods The survey was based on a data set comprising 746 relevés and 822 vascular plant species, collected in accordance with the Braun‐Blanquet sampling method. The data were classified using the hierarchical ISOmetric feature mapping and Partitioning Around Medoids, and ordinated through isometric feature mapping (ISOPAM). The environmental variables were related to the ISOPAM ordination. Results The ISOPAM classification identified two clusters, five vegetation types and 17 plant communities, which were distributed across different elevations. There were notable differences in the diagnostic species, average percentages of endemic species, chorotypes and life forms among the various vegetation types and plant communities. The primary gradient in grassland vegetation was found to be associated with elevation and related climatic variables. Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the montane grasslands of the Sierras Pampeanas in central Argentina. It presents a comprehensive classification of the region's grasslands, including tall tussock grasslands, humid grasslands, stony grasslands, and grasslands with scattered shrubs and trees. Each recognized unit is distinguished by diagnostic species and a distinct floristic composition. Our findings emphasize a significant division between grasslands at higher elevation, abundant in Andean species, and Piedmont and shrubby grasslands at lower elevations, characterized by a higher prevalence of Chacoan and other Neotropical species. Grassland vegetation in other regions of the Sierras Pampeanas remains poorly studied, requiring additional research to determine the syntaxonomic position of this vegetation.

Sebastián R. Zeballos

Juan José Cantero

Melisa A. Giorgis

Alicia T. R. Acosta

César O. Núñez

M. Virginia Palchetti

Daihana S. Argibay

Marcelo R. Cabido

Applied Vegetation Science

应用植被科学侧重于与人类与植被相互作用相关的社区级主题，包括全球变化、自然保护、自然管理、植物群落和自然栖息地的恢复，以及半自然和城市景观的规划。欢迎植被调查、建模和遥感应用。不属于此范围的植被科学论文（没有应用方面且不是植被调查）应提交给我们的副期刊《植被科学杂志》。只有当单一物种在构建植物群落中发挥关键作用时，这两种期刊才会发表关于单一物种生态学的论文。

The journal "Applied Vegetation Science" focuses on community-level topics related to the interactions between humans and vegetation, including global change, conservation, natural management, the restoration of plant communities and natural habitats, as well as the planning of semi-natural and urban landscapes. We welcome studies related to vegetation surveys, modeling, and remote sensing applications. Please note that vegetation science papers that do not fall within this scope (i.e., those without an applied aspect and not related to vegetation surveys) should be submitted to our sister journal, "Vegetation Science." Only when a single species plays a key role in the construction of plant communities will both journals publish papers on the ecology of single species.

《Applied Vegetation Science》期刊专注于人类与植被之间相互作用的社区级主题，包括全球变化、自然保护、自然管理、植物群落及自然栖息地的恢复，以及半自然和城市景观的规划。我们欢迎植被调查、建模和遥感应用的相关研究。请注意，不属于此范围的植被科学论文（即没有应用方面且不是植被调查的研究）应提交给我们的副期刊《Vegetation Science》。只有在单一物种在构建植物群落中发挥关键作用时，这两种期刊才会发表关于单一物种生态学的论文。

Category	Quartile
环境科学与生态学	3
环境科学与生态学, 林学	2
环境科学与生态学, 生态学	3
环境科学与生态学, 植物科学	3

Classification of montane grasslands in central Argentina

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
PLANT SCIENCES	2