Atlas of Czechoslovakia (its biogeographical and geobotanical content)

Summary

This review examines the biogeographic and geobotanical content of the Atlas of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The atlas comprises 58 thematic map groups (over 400 maps), with the biogeographic section (sheets 21–22) compiled by J. Raušer and A. Zlatník. The centerpiece is the 1:1,000,000 "Biogeography I" map, based on the biogeocenosis concept, employing a coordinate-based legend system that integrates vegetation altitudinal belts with edaphic series. Sheet 22 contains four 1:2,000,000 maps covering aquatic communities, characteristic plant and animal species, and florogenesis. Sheet 23 includes forest maps and phytogeographic regionalization of particular biogeographic relevance. The authors commend the atlas's methodological innovations while noting shortcomings such as insufficient representation of mountain altitudinal zonation and inconsistent legend conventions across related maps.