Parameters of Ecological Space and Floristic Diversity of Forest Formations in the Northeast of European Russia

Abstract

The results of studies on transformations of the floristic diversity of forest ecosystems under the effect of human activity in the southern and middle taiga subzones of the Komi Republic are reviewed. It is shown that the change of dominants in the tree layer leads to the formation of specific biotopes and, as a consequence, to changes in floristic complexes and the cenotic roles of species in the lower layers of forest communities. In the study region, the α -diversity of forest communities is determined mainly by two environmental factors: soil fertility and acidity. The factor of illumination has only a slight effect on the α -diversity of taiga forests, which is especially clear in the group of deciduous forest formations.

Postagrogenic development of Retisols in the middle taiga subzone of European Russia (Komi Republic)

“…At site 3AC, the tree stand (total canopy density 0.6) was dominated by deciduous trees. The decrease of the illumination level under the canopy of the young stand (Degteva, ), reduction of N caused by active tree regrowth, and increasing C‐species competition (Novakovskiy et al, ) resulted in a decrease in species richness compared to site 2AC. Ruderal species dropped out from the community, and plants typical of natural communities (forests and meadows) strengthen their positions (e.g., Geranium sylvaticum ).…”

“…At site 3AC, the tree stand (total canopy density 0.6) was dominated by deciduous trees. The decrease of the illumination level under the canopy of the young stand (Degteva, 2005), reduction of N caused by active tree regrowth, and increasing C-species competition (Novakovskiy et al, 2016) However, the composition of the dwarf shrub-herb layer was strongly different compared to the earlier succession stages and became closed to the intact forests. Species from the initial succession stages were not registered at the site; although forest and meadow-forest species prevailed here, the moss-lichen layer was not formed.…”

Short-rotation forestry with hybrid aspen (Populus tremulaL.×P. tremuloidesMichx.) in Northern Europe

“…Systems with short-rotation harvests therefore may reduce populations of many forest species, resulting in a long-term loss of species diversity compared to natural old-growth forests (Halpern & Spiess, 1995;Weih et al, 2003). In contrast, old aspen trees and forests frequently are associated with a great number of birds, mammals, lichens, mosses, fungi and vascular plant species, including several red-list species (Degteva, 2005;Harestad & Keisker, 1989;Hanski, 1998;Hedenas et al, 2006;Kuusinen, 1994;Lõhmus, 2011). Therefore, Populus stands that are harvested frequently to increase biomass production may be desirable from a commercial perspective, but long harvest intervals would be preferable to benefit many environmental and nature conservation values in those stands.…”

Floristic diversity responses in young hybrid aspen plantations to land-use history and site preparation treatments

“…High biodiversity of aspen forests is usually related to old economically over-mature stands. Old aspen forests and aspen trees are associated with a great number of bird, mammal, lichen, moss and vascular plant species, including several red-list species (Harestad and Keisker, 1989;Kuusinen, 1994;Hanski, 1998;Degteva, 2005;Hedenas et al, 2006). Thus, putting the biomass production pressure on short-rotation aspen plantations would help to preserve old aspen forests and the related environmental values.…”