Fifteen emerging challenges and opportunities for vegetation science - A horizon scan by early career researchers

With the aim to identify future challenges and opportuni-ties in vegetation science, we brought together a group of 22 early career vegetation scientists from diverse back-grounds to perform a horizon scan. In this contribution, we present a selection of 15 topics that were ranked by participants as the most emergent and impactful for vegetation science in the face of global change. We highlight methodological tools that we expect will play a critical role in resolving emerging issues by providing ways to unveil new aspects of plant community dynam-ics and structure. These tools include next generation se-quencing, plant spectral imaging, process- based species distribution models, resurveying studies and permanent plots. Further, we stress the need to integrate long-term monitoring, the study of novel ecosystems, below- ground traits, pollination interactions and global networks of near-surface microclimate data at fine spatio-temporal resolutions to fully understand and predict the impacts of climate change on vegetation dynamics. We also empha-size the need to integrate traditional forms of knowledge and a diversity of stakeholders into research, teaching, management and policy- making to advance the field of vegetation science. The conclusions reached by this hori-zon scan naturally reflect the background, expertise and interests of a representative pool of early career vegeta-tion scientists, which should serve as basis for future de-velopments in the field