Typological diversity of Siberian dwarf pine communities in the north of the Koryak district

Abstract

The new data obtained by the authors expand and concretize the existing ideas about the typology and ecology of Siberian dwarf pine communities of the mainland areas of the Koryak district of the Kamchatka Territory. In the research area, the most widely distributed dwarf pine stands are shrubby-green-mossy, confined to the average conditions of moisture and soil richness. They should be classified as a Class II of natural fire hazard. Siberian dwarf pine stands rich with lichens occupy the poorest and driest habitats on gravelly scree of basalts and andesites. They are classified as a Class I of natural fire hazard. Cassiopeia dwarf pine stands are confined to drained lithozems on ultrabasic rocks, found on the upper border of the dwarf pine belt. According to the conditions of burnability, they are close to shrub-lichen dwarf pine shrubs and also correspond to the I class of natural fire danger. Dwarf pine stands rich with Sphagnum occupy the last step in the series of stagnant moisture. They are classified as Class IV, i. e. moderate natural fire hazard. Dwarf pine stands rich with cloudberry-sedge indicate the initial stages of the process of stagnant waterlogging and occupy an intermediate position in the ecological series between green-mossy and Sphagnum – rich forest types. According to the conditions of burnability, they correspond to Class III, i. e. average natural fire hazard. Dwarf pine stands rich with dwarf shrubs and reed grass are confined to habitats with flowing moisture. They are classified as Class IV, moderate natural fire hazard.