The structure of living ground cover under the various tree species canopy in the arboretum of V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The living ground cover species composition under the various tree species canopy in the Arboretum of V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, in the city of Krasnoyarsk was studied. The purpose of the work is to determine the ground cover species composition, structure and phytomass in the various tree species biogroups. The studies were carried out in 2020–2022 at the 13 tree species biogroups growing on the Arboretum territory. The floristic composition, projective cover and occurrence of species growing in the studied biogroups were determined. Based on the analysis of floristic data, biodiversity indices were calculated. The taxonomic, belt-zonal, ecological, biomorphological features of the flora structure were determined. It was established that 12 shrub layer species and 47 living ground cover species (44 – the grass-shrub layer and 3 moss taxons) were recorded in the studied woody plant biogroups. Species diversity indices were calculated for each biogroup. The ground cover ecological and ecological-coenotic structures have been determined. The most important groups have been identified. The factors influencing the ground cover characteristics were identified. It has been established that the living ground cover floristic composition is influenced by both biotic (phytogenic field) and abiotic factors in the arboretum 46 years after its creation. The phytogenic field species-specific influence on the living ground cover species composition was revealed in six tree species. The ground projective cover and phytomass as well as the species occurrence are significantly affected by abiotic factors, in particular, illumination.

Keywords

• species composition
• phytogenic field
• flora structure
• abiotic and biotic factors