[Basic trends in the development of the theory of syntaxonomy and plant communities dynamics]

Considered are trends in the development of two basic parts of phytosociology--syntaxonomy (vegetation classification) and vegetation dynamics. At the end of XX century, the consolidation of researches in the field of syntaxonomy has taken place on the base of Braun-Blanquet approach, as well as the development of syntaxonomy due to studies of vegetation in new regions, and adoption of information technologies. In Russia, Braun-Blanquet approach has being implemented only in 1980s, because before that its spread was impeded by political climate in the country. Presently, syntaxonomy of vegetation in Russia includes 80 classes, 169 orders, and 377 alliances, at that considerable part of them are new for the science. In the theory of vegetation dynamics, the paradigm shift has occurred in XX century--from organicism to the concept of continuum. From the beginning of XXI century, the interest in general theory of successions has being receded and, instead, particular patterns of successions of different type have being revealed.