Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology / The Advance of Woody and Shrub Vegetation to the Mountains and Changes in the Composition of Tundra Communities (Poperechnaya Mountain, the Zigalga Mountain Range in the Southern Urals)

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Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology. 2018 11 (3)
Authors
Grigor’ev, Andrei A.; Erokhina, Olga V.; Sokovnina, Svetlana U.; Shalaumova, Yulia V.; Balakin, Dmitryi S.
Contact information
Grigor’ev, Andrei A.: Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology UB RAS 202, 8 Marta Str., Ekaterinburg, 620144, Russia; ; Sokovnina, Svetlana U.: Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology UB RAS 202, 8 Marta Str., Ekaterinburg, 620144, Russia; Shalaumova, Yulia V.: Institute of Industrial Ecology UB RAS 20 S. Kovalevskoj Str., Ekaterinburg, 620990, Russia; Balakin, Dmitryi S.:Ural State Forest Engineering University 37 Sibirsky trakt, Ekaterinburg, 620100, Russia
Keywords
Juniperus sibirica Burgsd; aerial and satellite images, landscape photographs; upper limit of woody and shrub vegetation; open spruce woodland; Juniperus sibirica Burgsd; mountain tundra plant communities; climate change; the Southern Urals
Abstract

Estimation of the dynamics of zonal and mountain tundra plant communities is extremely relevant in modern conditions of climate change. This article demonstrates the results of the estimation of woody and shrub vegetation progression to higher mountains at the Zigalga mountain range (the Southern Urals) using various methods: the comparison of aerial and satellite images, the repeated landscape photographs made at different times and also the examination of Juniperus sibirica Burgsd. age structure at different altitudes. The upward shift of woody and shrub vegetation is caused by the air temperature rise and increased precipitation during the winter periods in the Southern Urals. Vertical and horizontal upper limit shifts of open woodland from 1958 to 2012 are demonstrated. The vertical shift was determined to be 0.74 m/year and the horizontal one is 0.20 m/year. Based on the study of J. sibirica age structure, the fact of its advancement to the mountains during the last two centuries has been established. The research has been focused on the floristic composition of the mountain tundra communities with different J. sibirica cover. The floristic composition of the mountain tundra communities demonstrates their typological similarity. Introduction of J. sibirica leads to structural reorganization. The observed trends for vascular plants do not have any correlation with the height above sea level. Species composition of lichen synusia does not depend on J. sibirica cover, but it correlates with the altitude. Species richness and abundance of terrestrial lichens decrease in plant communities located lower on the mountain slope

Pages
218-236
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/72134

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