VACCINIO–PICEETEA CLASS IN THE VEGETATION COVER OF THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE VOLGA UPLAND

Abstract

Background. The syntaxonomic diversity of forest vegetation of the VACCINIO–PICEETEA class is presented in the paper based on the analysis of a large array of original data. The class is represented by three associations that differ in habitat conditions. The spatial distribution of the isolated syntaxons is characterized depending on the type of landscape. Materials and methods. The study of the composition and structure of forest vegetation was carried out during route and stationary studies on trial areas. The analysis included 767 complete geobotanical descriptions. Vegetation classification was carried out on the basis of principles and methodological approaches of ecological and floristic classification. Results and conclusions. Syntaxonomic diversity of pine forests with dominance/high participation of boreal species and moss cover can be described by three associations, one subassociation and one variant, two facies belonging to the same union and order. Non-moral species, boreal and subboreal species are significantly represented in the composition of the cenoflora of forests, and there is also a significant participation of light- and heat-loving subpontic and South Siberian species.

Keywords

• vaccinio–piceetea
• western slopes of the volga upland
• forest-steppe