Evaluate of the flora species diversity of key biotopes in logging in Vologda region

The reduction of species diversity in the process of logging and the solution of the issue of species conservation is of particular relevance for the Vologda region, the territory of which is almost 80% covered by forests, where clear cutting is carried out on a significant area. One of the directions of species conservation in the process of forest management is the identification of key biotopes. Indices of similarities and differences between plant communities can be considered as a tool for assessing species diversity. The aim of the work was to demonstrate the need for additional study of the species diversity of plants of forest communities when establishing the boundaries of key biotopes with excessive moisture in the process of forest management. The territories of five key biotopes preserved in the process of logging during clear-cutting were studied. At the same time, forestry-taxation and ecological-biological methods of field and office assessment were used. On the basis of detailed floristic descriptions using similarity and difference indices, an assessment of plant communities of living ground cover in individual elements of key biotopes – the core and the buffer zone – was carried out. The data obtained by the authors indicate that the distribution by abundance classes of the Drude scale is uneven (most species are not numerous); There is a higher level of species diversity in the buffer zone compared to the core of key biotopes. Analysis of the values of the indices of similarity (Jaccard, Sjørensen-Chekanovsky, Kul’chinsky) and difference (Stugren-Radulescu) indicates that the core and buffer zone of the key biotope «Ermolino» (a forest area on the edge of the swamp) have the greatest similarity, and the core and buffer zone of the «Novlenskoye» object (a forest area along a temporary watercourse) have the least identity. The buffer zone is characterized by a higher originality of species spectra. Thus, it is concluded that it is necessary to carry out environmental measures to preserve species diversity in the process of forest management, as well as to identify and preserve not only the central zone (core) of the key biotope, but also its buffer zone as the territory with the largest number of species.

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