Skógræktarritið - 15.05.2001, Qupperneq 143

SKÓGRÆKT HANDAN SKÓGARMARKA/ NSSE
VALENTINA YU. NESHATAYEVA
Classification of the stone-birch
(Betula ermanii Cham.) forests of
Southern Kamchatka
SAMANTEKT
í þessari grein er fjallað um flokkun skógargróðurs í friðlöndum á
Suður-Kamtsjatka þar sem steinbjörk (Belula ermanii Cham.) er ríkjandi.
Að baki liggja vettvangsrannsóknir, sem hafa náð yfir langan tíma.
Steinbjarkargróðurinn var skilgreindur með aðferðum gróðurfélags-
fræðinnar í gróðursveitir, nánar tiltekið sem fjórar undirsveitir
(Beluletum ermanii filipendulosum camtchaticae, B. e. varioherbosum, B.e. alno-
sum camtschaticae og B. e. sorbosum sambucifoliae). Þessar einingar voru
settar undir þrjá gróðurflokka [Betuletea ermanii alteriherbosa, B. e. varioher-
bosa og B. e. fruticosa) og eina gróðursyrpu (formation) Betuletea ermanii).
Vakin er athygli á að steinbjarkarskógurinn sem kannaður var á
Kamtsjatka er á suðurmörkum útbreiðslu sinnar. Hann er einkum að
finna í árdölum, lægðum og á sjávarkömbum. Samanburður var gerður
á þeim gróðureiningum, sem hér eru skilgreindar og steinbjarkarsam-
félögum á öðrum svæðum Kamtsjatkaskagans.
The plant cover of Southern
Kamchatka has not been well
enough studied. Only some itin-
erary investigations have been
carried out at the beginning of
this century (Hulten 1927 and
1974, Pavlov 1936, Pavlovand
Chizhikov 1937). The brief charac-
teristic of stone-birch forests at
the territory of the South
Kamchatka State Reserve has
been given by E. Hulten (1974)
and the author (Neshatayeva
1988). The present paper is de-
voted to the study of the phyto-
coenotical diversity of Kamchatka
stone-birch forests at the south-
ern boundary of their areal.
Materials and methods
Field work was carried out in
1985-1986 and 1990-1991 at the
territory of Southern Kamchatka
nature reserve, Elizovo environs
(Moroznaya Mt.) and at the
Paratunka river basin. 120 releves
were made in stone-birch stands
that were uniform in floristic com-
position and structure over an
area larger than the predefined
minimal area, i.e. at least 100 m2.
Transects crossing the typical
landscapes were layed from the
shore of the Sea of Okhotsk to the
volcanic plateau. The transects
were divided into pickets every
100 m. The size of sample plots
layed along the transects was 20 x
20 m. Percentage cover of each
taxon and layer was estimated.
Altitude, exposition and inclina-
tion were estimated with the help
of a map, barometer and com-
pass. All the plant community
releves are stored at the
Laboratory of plant community
ecology (Komarov Botanical
Institute). For the tree layer the
diameter and density of crowns,
the average and maximal height
of trees, average and maximal
diameter of stems were mea-
sured. The table method of releve
analysis being elaborated at the
Department of Geobotany of
Saint-Petersburg University
(Neshatayev 1987) has been used.
The plant community classifica-
tion based on the principles of
the Russian ecologo-phytocoeno-
logical school has been elaborat-
ed. The nomenclature of syntaxa
was used in accordance with the
„All-union Code of phytocoeno-
logical nomenclature" (1989).
Results
As the result, the classification of
stone-birch forests has been
elaborated. Four associations,
three association groups and one
formation were distinguished.
The brief characteristics of the
syntaxa are given below.
Formation Betuleta ermanii -
Stone-birch forests
Association group I. Betuleta
ermanii althiherbosa
The plant communities are char-
acterized by the high (1,5 m) tall-
herb layer with the coverage 80-
85%. The species of broad-leaved
tall-herbs are abundant
(Filipendula camtschatica, Senecio
cannabifolius).
Association 1. Betuletum ermanii
filipendulosum camtschaticae
SKÓGRÆKTARRITIÐ 2001 l.tbl.
141