Land typology by L. G. Ramenskiy and eunis habitat classification (retrospective view)

The rapid rate of decline in the Earth’s biodiversity under the influence of direct and indirect anthropogenic pressure makes it necessary to develop the scientific foundations for its conservation at all levels of life. Ecologists have come to understand that the best way to ensure the conservation of populations of organisms and their communities is to preserve the environment in which they live. The countries of the European Community, where special programs have been developed since mid 1980s, have shown the greatest activity in preserving environmental conditions. Currently, the «European Union Nature Information System» (EUNIS) has become the most popular among such programs. Habitat is a central concept in EUNIS. For the purposes of EUNIS, habitat is defined asa place where plants or animals normally live, characterized primarily by its physical features (topography, plant or animal physiognomy, soil characteristics, climate, water quality etc.) and secondarily by the species of plants and animals that live there (Davies et al., 2004). Most often, habitat is considered to be synonym of the term biotope. The EUNIS biotope classification would correspond to the ecosystem classification if heterotrophic components were largely present in it. However, at present, these organisms, are not used for classification of terrestrial ecosystems. The latter (especially benthos) are important in the characterization of marine habitat types. The author does not deny the extreme importance of the EUNIS habitat classification for ecological science and solving problems of nature conservation. He is only sure that the concept of habitat classification began to be developed in the Soviet Union as early as 1920–1930th in the papers by L. G. Ramenskiy who in 1927 published the definition of habitat type: The type of habitat or natural area is determined by a combination of climate conditions, relief, irrigation, and the nature of the soil and subsoil. The same type can be covered by a meadow, or a forest, or plowed up, etc.: these are its transitional states (in virgin untouched nature, each type is inhabited by a completely definite combination of plants - steppe, forest, meadow, etc.). Afterwards L. G. Ramenskiy began to use the term land type instead of habitat type. In the 1930s, by the land type he meant an ecosystem unit in which plant community would exist without human influence. The land type in nature is represented by a set of various modifications that arise, as a rule, under man pressure. Modifications can transform into each other and revert to the original state of the type. Later, such plant community was called potential vegetation (Tüxen, 1956). In 1932–1935, L. G. Ramenskiy supervised the inventory of natural forage lands in the USSR, which used this concept of land type (Golub, 2015). The inventory of natural forage lands in the USSR resulted in their hierarchical classification: 19 classes and 43 subclasses were established. The exact number of distinguished types was not calculated, according to L. G. Ramenskiy rough assessment, there were more than thousand. In most cases, the potential vegetation of the types could not be identified. Proceedings of this inventory were not published. However, the L. G. Ramenskiy former post-graduate student N. V. Kuksin, who took part in the inventory in Ukraine, wrote the book about the forage type lands in this republic of the USSR (Kuksin, 1935). The typology of hayfields and pastures presented in that book is very similar to the habitat classification developed on the principles of the EUNIS system (Kuzemko et al., 2018). By the late 1940s, L. G. Ramenskiy had concluded that modern science was unable to establish potential vegetation for many habitat types. Therefore, he recommended calling the land type what he previously attributed to modifications. For practical reasons and for the sake of brevity, it is advisable to also call types the main groups of modifications of land types (forest, meadow, arable) (Ramenskiy, 1950, p. 489). As a result, his understanding of land type became the same as later habitat was interpreted in the EUNIS system. The typology by L. G. Ramenskiy lands and the classification of EUNIS habitats have the same essence and basis, but different groups of human society proposed them: the first exploits land resources, the second tries to protect them. Based on L. G. Ramenskiy typology, recommendations are made on the use of biotopes with the purpose to obtain sustainable maximum economic production. Based on the classification of the EUNIS system, recommendations are drawn up for the protection of plant and animal populations, as well as their community’s characteristic of a given biotope. The land typology by L. G. Ramenskiy could well be deployed towards the protection of biotopes, if there was a demand from society for such use. So keen interest in nature conservation, as now, did not exist in the course of the L. G. Ramenskiy lifetime. At present, the EUNIS biotope classification has begun to be used on the territory of the former USSR, while the land typology by L. G. Ramenskiy has been forgotten. There are two reasons for this phenomenon: 1) isolationism of Soviet science, which separated domestic scientists from their colleagues in the West; 2) L. G. Ramenskiy ideas were too ahead of time, their depth, essence and importance became understandable to biologists only few decades later. The paper shows that the formation of L. G. Ramenskiy views concerning the typology of habitats could been influenced by the ideas of the Russian forest scientist A. A. Krudener.

Syntaxonomy of desert steppe vegetation of Bogdinsko-Baskunchakskiy natural reserve (class Artemisietea lerchianae V. Golub 1994)

The Astrakhan region, one the most arid region of Russia, is mainly a plain territory with the unique mountain Bolshoe Bogdo, where the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural reserve was founded, including the adjacent plains and Baskunchak Lake. So far syntaxonomy of arid regions of Russia are rather poor, only the Lower Volga valley is described in detail (Golub, 1994; Golub, Maltsev, 2013). The aim of present study was to carry out floristic classification of desert-steppe vegetation of the reserve territory. The study is based on the authors’ 133 relevés, made in 2019, and 41 published ones (Safronova, 2013). Cluster analysis was carried out (Ward’s method, Chekanovsky-Dyce-Sørensen coefficient). Two dendrograms, built on the species presence-absence and their cover, allowed to distibguish phytocenons and determine their differential species. At the first step, the dendrogram based on the species presence-absence was analyzed (Fig. 3). At levels from 2 to 8 clusters, the number of differential species with IV-V class constancy (Table 1) were assess. At the level of 3 clusters all relevés were divided into petrophytic, psammophytic and zonal communities (Table 2). According to large number of differential species two classes (Artemisietea lerchianae V. Golub 1994 — petrophytic desert-steppe communities and Festucetea vaginatae Soó ex Vicherek 1972 — psammophytic steppes) were distinguished. Also desert-steppe communities on fine soils which belong to the first class without own differential species were distinguished and their relevés were included in further analysis. Class Artemisietea lerchianae V. Golub 1994 unites the northern desert and desert steppe communities. Diagnostic species (D. s.): Alyssum turkestanicum, Anabasis aphylla, A. salsa, Artemisia lerchiana, Bassia prostrata, Camphorosma monspeliaca, Nitrosalsola dendroides, Ceratocarpus arenarius, Ceratocephala testiculata agg., Eremopyrum orientale, Ferula caspica, Medicago medicaginoides, Meniocus linifolius, Peganum harmala, Petrosimonia oppositifolia, Poa bulbosa, Zygophyllum fabago. Order Agropyretalia desertorum ord. nov. includes desert steppes, widely spread in the southern part of the steppe zone, with domination of semishrubs and bunchgrasses. Holotypus hoc loco — ass. Artemisio lerchianae–Stipetum sareptanae ass. nov. D. s.: Agropyron desertorum, Allium inderiense, A. tulipifolium, Astragalus pseudotataricus, A. testiculatus, Ephedra distachya, Erysimum leucanthemum, Euphorbia undulata, Galatella tatarica, Prangos odontalgica, Rochelia retorta, Serratula erucifolia, Sterigmostemum caspicum, Stipa lessingiana, S. sareptana, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Tragopogon marginifolius, Tulipa patens, T. biflora. Alliance Agropyrion desertorum all. nov. Holotypus hoc loco — ass. Artemisio lerchianae–Stipetum sareptanae ass. nov. D. s. of the alliance = D. s. of the order. Ass. Artemisio lerchianae–Stipetum sareptanae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 4, rel.1–34), holotypus hoc loco: Table 4, relevé 1 (field number 19-077), Astrakhan region, Akhtubinskiy district, to the south of the Nizhny Baskunchak village, Bolshoe Bogdo Mt., 48.13294° N, 46.83287° E, convex near-top part of NNE slope, 22.05.2019, author: A. Yu. Korolyuk is central in the alliance. D. s.: Agropyron desertorum, Ephedra distachya, Erysimum leucanthemum, Prangos odontalgica, Stipa lessingiana, S. sareptana, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Tulipa biflora. Сommunities occupy large areas at foothills and gentle slopes of ridges, occasionally occur on moderately steep slopes. Ass. Artemisio pauciflorae–Atraphaxietum replicatae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 5, rel. 1–13), holotypus hoc loco: Table 5, relevé 1 (field number 19-081), Astrakhan V. Golub 1994, Akhtubinskiy district, to the south of Nizhny Baskunchak village, Bolshoe Bogdo Mt., 48.13597° N, 46.84192° E, plain area, slight depression, 22.05.2019, author: A. Yu. Korolyuk.­ D. s.: Anabasis salsa, Artemisia pauciflora, A. semiarida, Atraphaxis replicata, Atriplex cana, Camphorosma monspeliaca, Catabrosella humilis, Ferula caspica. Communities occur on convex slopes of various exposition, often with active erosion. Ass. Stipo lessingianae–Artemisietum tauricae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 5, rel. 14–37), holotypus hoc loco: Table 5, relevé 14 (field number 19-085), Astrakhan region, Akhtubinskiy district, to the south of Nizhny Baskunchak village, Bolshoe Bogdo Mt., 48.13558° N, 46.84563° E, gentle foothill of the eastern slope, 22.05.2019 author: A. Yu. Korolyuk. D. s.: Artemisia taurica, Elaeosticta lutea, Galatella villosa, Tulipa gesneriana, Veronica multifida. Relatively closed ommunities are most often common at foothills, also they occur on tops of ridges and their slopes of various steepness and exposition. Order Artemisietalia lerchianae V. Golub 1994, central in the class, unites zonal northern desert communities, at least within the Caspian region. D. s.: Alyssum turkestanicum, Anabasis aphylla, A. salsa, Artemisia lerchiana, Camphorosma monspeliaca, Caroxylon dendroides, Ceratocarpus arenarius, Ceratocephala testiculata agg., Eremopyrum orientale, Ferula caspica, Bassia prostrata, Medicago medicaginoides, Meniocus linifolius, Peganum harmala, Petrosimonia oppositifolia, Poa bulbosa, Zygophyllum fabago. Alliance Artemision lerchianae V. Golub 1994. D. s. of the alliance = D. s. of the class and order. Ass. Poo bulbosae–Artemisietum lerchianae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 6, rel. 1–39), holotypus hoc loco: Table 6, relevé 34 (field number 19-135), Astrakhan region, Akhtubinskiy district, to the north-west of Nizhny Baskunchak village, 48.23968° N, 46.81434° E, 24.05.2019, author: A. Yu. Korolyuk. D. s.: Alyssum turkestanicum, Anabasis aphylla, Artemisia lerchiana, Ceratocarpus arenarius, Eremopyrum orientale, Meniocus linifolius, Poa bulbosa. Communities dominated by Artemisia lerchiana and Poa bulbosa develop on fine soils within the subzones of northern deserts and desert steppes. Subass. P. b. –A. l. typicum subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 6, rel. 34–39). Communities are widely spread in the northern part of the desert zone and less common in the subzone of desert steppes. Subass. P. b.–A. l. tanacetosum achilleifolii subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 6, rel. 1–33), holotypus hoc loco: Table 6, relevé 12 (field number 19-008), Astrakhan region, Kharabalinskiy district, to the NW from the Volnoe village, the upper part of gentle slope, 47.16164° N, 47.59213° E, 17.05.2019, author: A. Yu. Korolyuk. D. s.: Astragalus dolichophyllus, Gagea bulbifera, Holosteum umbellatum, Medicago orthoceras, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Veronica triphyllos. Within subassociation, which is common within the desert steppe subzone, two variants are distinguished: typica (Table 6, rel.12–33) and Artemisia taurica (Table 6, rel.1–11). Alliance Anabasio salsae–Artemision pauciflorae Lysenko in Lysenko et Mucina 2015 unites communities dominated by Anabasis salsa and Artemisia pauciflora on solonetz soils (Lysenko, Mucina, 2015), common in the subzones of dry and desert steppes as well as in the north of the desert zone. D. s.: Anabasis aphylla, A. salsa, Artemisia pauciflora, Atriplex cana, Leymus ramosus, Suaeda physophora. Community Anabasis salsa (Table 6, rel. 40–45) dominated by nameforming species occur on eroded slopes of clay saline deposits at the territory of Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky reserve and adjacent landscapes.

The vegetation of the class Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae Tx. 1937 in the Yanganape mountain massif area (Eastern macroslope of the Polar Urals)

There are very few publications on the classification of mountain mire vegetation in Russia. Several associations in the Southern Siberia mountains (Lapshina, 1996; Lashchinsky, 2009) and the Khibiny Mountains (Koroleva, 2001) are described. Mire vegetation in the Southern Urals is relatively well studied and described in the traditions of the ecological-phytocenotic dominant classification (Ivchenko, 2013; Ivchenko, Znamenskiy, 2015) while the knowledge on that of the Northern and Sub-Polar Urals is extremely limited. There is no information about the mires in the Polar Urals. The paper presents the results of classification of the class Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae of the Yanganape mountain massif (67.68°—67.75° N, 67.72°—68.00° E) and adjacent plains in the Eastern macroslope of the Polar Urals, within the southern tundra subzone. The study area is mountain massif of about 250 m a. s. l., composed of limestone outcrops, with a wavy flat (60–90 m a. s. l.) plain around (Fig. 1–2). The classification is based on 138 relevés made in July 27–August 8, 2017 (Fig. 3). Relevés of similar syntaxa, established in the north of the Western Europe and the East European tundras (Ruuhijärvi, 1960; Dierssen, 1982; Lavrinenko et al., 2016), were included in analysis. DCA and t-SNE (t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding) methods were used for ordination of syntaxa in multidimensional space (Maaten, Hinton, 2008). The calculations were made using the machine learning package for Python-Scikit-learn. In total, 13 associations, 11 subassociations, 12 variants from 6 alliances and 3 orders of the class Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae were identified on the relatively small (about 70 km2) area. Within the order Caricion davallianae, syntaxa of the alliance Caricion atrofuscae-saxatilis, comprising low sedge-hypnum communities on carbonate mineral and organomineral soils in the mountains of the Western Europe, were identified and described for the first time on the territory of Russia. Three new associations (Ditricho flexicauli—Caricetum redowskianae, Tomentypno nitentis–Equisetetum palustre, Tomentypno nitentis–Eriophoretum vaginati) were described on the the Yanganape mountain massif (Table 1), which significantly expands the area of the alliance to the East. Alliance’ communities have some similarities with syntaxa of zonal dwarf shrub-grass-moss tundra vegetation (Lavrinenko, Lavrinenko, 2018), but are generally well differed by the species composition and community structure (Table 5). The order Caricetalia fuscae in the Eastern macroslope of the Polar Urals is represented by 4 alliances. In addition to Drepanocladion exannulati and Sphagno-Caricion canescentis, listed in the “Classification of Vegetation of Europe” (Mucina et al., 2016), we include into order the alliance Caricion stantis — moderately rich sedge-moss fen vegetation of the Subarctic and tundra zones, and the alliance Stygio–Caricion limosae, containing extremely waterlogged meso-oligotrophic and slightly acidic to neutral low sedge fens. There are 4 associations within the alliance Caricion stantis, including new ass. Scorpidio cossonii–Caricetum rariflorae (Table 2). Taking into account statistically significant differences in the species composition of sedge-moss communities dominated by various moss species (Fig. 15, 5-6), ass. Scorpidio scorpioidis–Caricetum chordorrhizae was taken out from ass. Drepanoclado revolventis–Caricetum chordorrhizae Osvald 1925 ex Dierssen 1982 broadly understood in the Western Europe. Its nomenclature type is the only relevé of Carex chordorrhizae-Amblistegium scorpioides-Ass. (Osvald 1925: 37), which sufficient for the original diagnosis, because it contains list of species with abundance and both name-giving taxa (ICPN, 2b, 7). The communities of both associations were identified in the Eastern macroslope of the Polar Urals, where they are represented by new subassociations, which significantly expands the distribution area of these associations to the East. Recently validly described in the Eastern European tundras (Lavrinenko et al., 1916) ass. Scorpidio revolventis–Caricetum rariflorae is also known for the North of the Western Europe (Dierssen, 1982). Its difference from western syntaxa is the absence of many boreal species, which are not able to exist in the severe climate in the North of Western Siberia, as well as the great number of plant communities with the diagnostic species of the alliance Caricion atrofuscae-saxatilis due to rich mineral nutrition, associated with the carbonate soils and calcium-rich groundwaters in the study area. New associations are established in two allian­ces: Carici aquatilis–Warnstorfietum tundrae in Drepanocladion exannulati and Sphagno squarrosi–Caricetum chordorrhizae in Sphagno–Caricion canescentis (Table 3). The floristic features of the latter alliance, whose communities on the northern limit of their distribution have a certain similarity to the arctic sedge-moss mire vegetation of the alliance Caricion stantis, are discussed. Oligotrophic communities of the alliance Scheuch­zerion palustris, occuring in acidic habitats, are placed in the order Scheuchzerietalia palustris that is in agreement with new interpretation of this alliance in the paper by Mucina et al. (2016). Two associations (Carici rotundatae–Sphagnetum baltici, Sphagno compaci–Caricetum rotundatae) are assigned to this alliance. There are few relevés for both Scheuchzerion palustris and Stygio–Caricion limosae alliances in the study area that is why their classification is preliminary, and it will be considered in the near future for the whole North of the Western Siberia on a larger data set. The classification results are confirmed by DCA-ordination of selected syntaxa (Fig.15, Б). However, the differentiation of communities is more clearly demonstrated by the t-SNE method, which allows displaying multidimensional hyperspaces on the plane (Fig.15, А).

Psammophyte vegetation of the Bargusin depression (Republic of Buryatia)

Modern aeolian landscapes occupy large territories in Transbaikalia. The Barguzin depression bottom is an area with sandy lands (Ivanov, 1960). This depression is one of the largest around the Lake Baikal (Florensov et al., 1965). Its internal field are accumulative surfaces, formed by Pleistocene sands, so-called “kujtuns” (Forest, Suvinsky, Lower, and Upper), are located as stripes of variable width, replacing each other from the north-west to the south-east (Fig. 2 A-D). Aeolian processes are most dynamic on weakly sod and bare sands: in the lower part of the Argada river, in the basins of Ina, Ulan-Burga, Zhargalanty rivers, and in the marginal parts of the steppe “kuytuns” (Fig. 3, 4). The results of aeolian processes are dunes and ridge-basin relief. This publication continues the series of papers (Dulepova, Korolyuk, 2013, 2015; Dulepova, 2016) on psammophytic vegetation of Baikal Siberia (Irkutsk region, the Republic of Buryatia, and the Trans-Baikal region). The paper is based on the analysis of 116 geobotanical relevés obtained in the course of the field studies in 2009–2014 in the Barguzinsky and Kurumkansky districts of the Republic of Buryatia. Four relevés are taken from the literature (Shchipek et al., 2002). Three diagnostic species of the class Brometea korotkiji Hilbig et Koroljuk 2000 (Bromopsis korotkiji, Corispermum sibiricum, Carex sabulosa) occur on the studied sandy lands. Among species of the order Oxytropidetalia lanatae Brzeg et Wika 2001 (Brzeg, Wika, 2001) such species as Artemisia ledebouriana, Chamaerhodos grandiflora, Oxytropis lanata have high constancy and often dominate in communities. When comparing new syntaxa with the previously described alliances (Oxytropidion lanatae Hilbig et Koroljuk 2000, Aconogonion chlorochryseum Dulepova et Korolyuk 2013 and Festucion dahuricae Dulepova et Korolyuk 2015) it was found that they are closer to the alliance Festucion dahuricae. However, Artemisia xanthochroa, Caragana buriatica, Festuca dahurica, Thymus baicalensis, and Ulmus pumila, commom in the Selenga river middle mountains, are absent in the study area (Korolyuk, 2017). The psammophytic fraction of the flora of the study area is not very peculiar. Only two endemic species (Oxytropis bargusinensis and Aconogonon bargusinense) are recorded on the sands of the Barguzin depression. 5 associations, 3 subassociations and 3 communities of the class Brometea korotkiji and 1 association of the class Cleistogenetea squarrosae Mirk. et al. ex Korotkov et al. 1991 (Table 1) are established as new. Association Bromopsietum korotkiji ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, rel. 6–17). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 2, relevé 6 (field number — nd10-200), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, 2 km southwest of the village of Kharamodun, the convex peak of dune), 54.18734° N, 110.48333° E., altitude 473 m a.s.l., 31/07/2010, author — N. A. Dulepova (Fig. 5). Diagnostic species: Bromopsis korotkiji (dom.). Association Aconogonetum bargusinensis ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, rel. 18–25). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 2, relevé 18 (field number — 10-591), Republic of Buryatia, Barguzinsky district, 7 km south of the village Urzhil, an elevated sandy terrace of the Ulan-Burga river, 53.87645° N, 110.32410° E, altitude 628 m a.s.l., 28/07/2010, ­author — A. Yu. Korolyuk. (Fig. 6, 7). Diagnostic species: Aconogonon bargusinense (dom.) Association Oxytropido lanatae–Caricetum sabulosae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, rel. 26–37). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 2, relevé 26 (field number — nd10-339), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, 8.3 km southwest of the village of Kharamodun, an elevated sandy terrace of the Argada river, 54.12156° N, 110.45382 E, altitude 514 m a.s.l., 17/08/2010, author — N. A. Dulepova. Diagnostic species: Carex sabulosa (dom.) Association Oxytropido lanatae–Bromopsietum korotkiji ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 1–30). Nomenclature type (holotype hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 1 (field number — nd09-040), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, side of the river valley Argada in 4–5 km south-west from village Argada, the lower part of the high sandy terrace, 54.20118° N, 110.64804° E, altitude 537 m a.s.l., 05/07/2009, author — N. A. Dulepova. Diagnosed by species of class and order. Subassociation B.k.–O.l. typicum subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 1–8. Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 1. Diagnostic features are those of association. Subassociation B.k.–O.l. chamaerhodetosum grandiflorae subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 9–19). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 9 (field number — 09-176), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, side of the valley of the Argada river 4–5 km southwest of the village Argada, upper convex part of high sandy terrace, 54.20235° N, 110.64528° E, altitude 570 m a.s.l., 05/07/2009, author — A.Yu. Korolyuk. Diagnostic species: Chamaerhodos grandiflora (dom.). Subassociation B.k.–O.l. artemisietosum ledebourianae subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 20–30). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 20 (field number — nd10-325), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, 8.3 km south-west of the village of Kharamodun, the upper third of the high sandy terrace of the Argada river, 54.12157° N, 110.48679° E, altitude 557 m a.s.l., 17/08/2010, ­author — N. A. Dulepova. Diagnostic species: Artemisia ledebouriana (dom.), Orobanche coerulescens, Stellaria dichotoma, Vincetoxicum sibiricum. Association Artemisio frigido–Oxytropidetum bargusinensis ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 41–46). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 41 (field number — 10-566), Republic of Buryatia, Barguzinsky district, 4 km north-west of Bodon village, Suvinsky kujtun, flat elongated blowing trough, 53.71945° N, 110.04983° E, altitude 566 m a.s.l., 27/07/2010, author — A. Yu. Korolyuk. Diagnostic species: Bupleurum bicaule, Iris humilis, Youngia tenuifolia, Oxytropis bargusinensis. According to cluster analysis (Fig. 9) of data from Baikal Siberia, Mongolia, Tuva, and Inner Mongolia (China) the diversity of psammophytic vegetation is mainly determined by the sand land geography, which is reflected at the alliance, order, and class levels. The dynamics of overgrowth of sands is well traced at the association, subassociation, and community levels. Cluster analysis confirmed the attribution of most of the described syntaxa from the Barguzin and Selenga basins in the alliance Festucion dahuricae.

Communities with shrub willows in typical tundra subzone in the East European sector of the Arctic

Outside the Russian Arctic, the floristic classification of willow scrub was carried out in Norway (Nordhagen, 1943), Greenland (Daniёls, 1982; Sieg et al., 2006), and Alaska (Cooper, 1986, 1989; Walker et al., 1994; Schickhoff et al., 2002). In the Russian Arctic, willow communities are most fully studied in Chukotka and Wrangel Isl. (Sekretareva, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2006; Sinelnikova, 2001); several associations are described in the Siberian Arctic (Zanokha, 2003; Telyatnikov et al., 2014, 2015), on the Kola Peninsula (Koroleva, 2006, 2014), while such studies have just begun in the East European tundras (Neshataev, Lavrinenko, 2020). Many researchers faced a dilemma as to which higher units should be assigned to the syntaxa of communities with shrub willows. They were placed in the Betulo-Adenostyletea Br.-Bl. 1948 (synonym Betulo carpaticae–Alnetea viridis Rejmánek ex Bœuf, Theurillat, Willner, Mucina et Simler in Bœuf et al. 2014), Salicetea purpureae Moor 1958, Scheuchzerio palustris–Caricetea fuscae Tx. 1937 nom. ambiguum (in cases of waterlogging) or Loiseleurio procumbentis–Vaccinietea Eggler ex Schubert 1960 (with a significant abundance of tundra species). Shrub willows are one of the most active plants in the southern and typical tundras of the East European sector of the Arctic. They not only form thickets with an independent high layer (willow scrub), but are also part of tundra and mire communities, in which they are located in one layer (up to 30 cm height) with herbs and dwarf-shrubs. We described 6 associations based on the analysis of 54 relevés made in 12 sites (Fig. 1) of the typical tundra subzone on the Kolguyev, Dolgiy and Vaygach islands and in the tundra near the Pechora River. Some of the described communities with Salix spp. can rightfully be called willow scrub. These are rather high (from 30 cm in height in the northern area of the typical tundra subzone to 160 cm in the southern) and closed (willow cover — 60–95 %) herb- or herb-moss rich thickets mainly from hypoarcto-montane species Salix glauca s. str. and S. lanata s. str. Three new associations are described. Ass. Polemonio acutiflorum–Salicetum lanatae Zanokha ex Lavrinenko et Lavrinenko ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 1, rel. 1–5; Table 5, syntaxon 1; Fig. 2a and b, 3; nomenclature type (lectotypus) — Zanokha, 2003: 35–37, Table 2, rel. 6). Low-growing willow scrub from Salix lanata (30–40 cm height) with herb (Arctagrostis latifolia, Artemisia tilesii, Bistorta vivipara, Cardamine pratensis subsp. angustifolia, Cerastium jenisejense, Equisetum arvense s. l., Myosotis asiatica, Petasites frigidus, Polemonium acutiflorum, Ranunculus propinquus, Saxifraga cernua, S. hirculus, Valeriana capitata)-moss (Brachythecium salebrosum, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Calliergonella lindbergii, Hylocomium splendens, Plagiomnium ellipticum) cover occupy large areas (up to several hundred square meters) on slightly sloping (1–5 °) sea terraces of Vaygach Isl. in places where sufficient snow accumulates in winter, on terrace bends, in depressions between ridges, on gentle slopes in valleys of small streams (Fig. 2a and b). The soils are cryogenic-ferruginous gley (Fig. 3). The association is also common in typical tundra of the Taimyr Peninsula. Ass. Triseto sibirici–Salicetum glaucae ass. nov. (Table 1, rel. 6–12, nomenclature type (holotypus) — rel. 10 (author’s number — 31_12), Kolguyev Isl., middlestream of the Bugryanka River, 07.08.2012, authors — O. V. Lavrinenko, I. A. Lavrinenko; Table 5, syntaxon 2; Fig. 4a and b, 5). Willow scrub mainly from Salix glauca (70–160 cm height) with herb (Caltha palustris, Carex aquatilis subsp. stans, Comarum palustre, Equisetum arvense s. l., Myosotis palustris, Petasites frigidus, Polemonium acutiflorum, Ranunculus propinquus, Rubus chamaemorus, Stellaria calycantha, S. crassifolia, S. palustris s. l., Trisetum sibiricum, Valeriana capitata)-moss (Brachythecium mildeanum, B. reflexum, Calliergon giganteum, Plagiomnium ellipticum, Rhizomnium pseudopunctatum, Sanionia uncinata) cover are described on Kolguyev Isl. The communities are widespread both in the floodplain, where they occupy flat areas in the middle part and near-terrace depressions (in front of the main bank), and on watersheds — in shallow runoff troughs, in saddles between hills and in the lower parts of slopes (Fig. 4a). The soils are cryogenic-ferruginous gley (Fig. 5). Ass. Climacio dendroidis–Salicetum lanatae ass. nov. (Table 2, rel. 1–20, nomenclature type (holotypus) — rel. 8 (author’s number — 63_12), Kolguyev Isl., middlestream of the Bugryanka River, 15.08.2012, authors — O. V. Lavrinenko, I. A. Lavrinenko; Table 5, syntaxa 3–5; Fig. 6a, b and c, 7). Dwarf-shrub–herb–moss willow scrub dominated by low Salix lanata (up to 50 cm height) and mosses (Climacium dendroides, Hylocomium splendens and Sanionia uncinata) are found exclusively on floodplain terraces, at the confluence of streams and on river bends, and are flooded in the strongest floods, which is well demonstrated by layered soils (Fig. 7). They are recognizable due to their well-defined hillock-hollow microrelief, which creates conditions for the growth of different ecology species. The communities are floristically rich (Table 6), especially in herbs (Alchemilla murbeckiana, Astragalus alpinus subsp. arcticus, Bartsia alpina, Carex aquatilis subsp. stans, Equisetum scirpoides, Euphrasia frigida, Festuca ovina, Pachypleurum alpinum, Parnassia palustris, Polemonium acutiflorum, Potentilla crantzii, Rubus chamaemorus, Valeriana capitata, Viola biflora). The presence of dwarf-shrubs (Arctous alpina, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Salix nummularia, S. reticulata, Vaccinium uliginosum subsp. microphyllum) with a relatively high abundance (10–40%) is a characteristic feature of this association. Subassociations were identified based on floristic differences caused by different stages of succession: C. d.–S. l. typicum subass. nov. (Table 2, rel. 1–13; Table 5, syntaxon 3; Fig. 6a and b, 7); C. d.–S. l. inops subass. nov. (Table 2, rel. 14–20, nomenclature type (holotypus) — rel. 18 (author’s number — 68_05), Kolguyev Isl., downstream of the Peschanka River, 04.09.2005, authors — O. V. Lavrinenko, I. A. Lavrinenko; Table 5, syntaxon 4; Fig. 6c). Communities of a subassociation depleted in species were formed on a younger alluvium in comparison with the typical subassociation. These 3 associations are united into a new alliance. All. Polemonio acutiflorum–Salicion glaucae all. nov. Willow scrub predominantly from Salix glauca and S. lanata with herb or herb-moss cover in depressions, runoff troughs, on the slopes of hills on watersheds and on occasionally flooded floodplains in the European part of the Russian Arctic. Nomenclature type of alliance (holotypus) — ass. Triseto sibirici–Salicetum glaucae ass. nov. (Table 1, rel. 6–12; Table 5, syntaxon 2) described in typical tundra on Kolguyev Isl. Diagnostic species of the alliance: Salix glauca and S. lanata (such species of the Salicetalia glauco-lanatae Bœuf et al. Ex Mucina et Daniёls in Mucina et al. 2016 order), herbs — Petasites frigidus, Polemonium acutiflorum, Poa pratensis s. l., Ranunculus propinquus, Valeriana capitata and moss Hylocomium splendens. High-constant species: herbs — Bistorta vivipara, Carex aquatilis subsp. stans, Equisetum arvense s. l., Rubus chamaemorus and mosses — Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Sanionia uncinata. The alliance is placed in the Salicetalia glauco-lanatae order and conditionally, following L. Mucina et al. (2016), into the Betulo carpaticae–Alnetea viridis class. We believe that new syntaxonomic units of the highest level are needed for scrub communities in the Arctic. This is evidenced by floristic differences. So, among the diagnostic species of this class (a total of 47 species, including 17 of the genus Salix), only 5 are found in the East European sector of the Arctic — Alnus fruticosa, Salix hastata, S. phylicifolia, Cortusa matthioli and Viola biflora, which are not in any way significant in willow scrub, in particular, the Polemonio acutiflorum–Salicion glaucae alliance. It is problematic to position another part of the described communities with Salix spp. as willow scrub even with high shrub cover. Willows do not form the highest of the dominant layers, affecting the composition of the lower layers, in which sedges, some mire grasses and mosses are significant. Communities with Salix myrsinites and other hemicalcephilic species were assigned to 2 associations. Ass. Carici redowskianae–Salicetum myrsinitae ass. nov. (Table 3, rel. 1–6, nomenclature type (holotypus) — rel. 4 (author’s number — 123_04), east coast of Dolgiy Isl., 11.07.2004, authors — O. V. Lavrinenko, I. A. Lavrinenko; Table 5, syntaxon 6; Fig. 8). Willow–sedge (Carex aquatilis subsp. stans, C. paralella subsp. redowskiana, C. rariflora)–moss communities dominated by low (up to 15 cm height) Salix myrsinites and green mosses (Aulacomnium turgidum, Hylocomium splendens, Sanionia uncinata, Tomentypnum nitens) are developed on base-rich soils in the terraces deflections and are distributed in the northern part of the typical tundra subzone on Vaygach, Dolgiy and Kolguyev islands. The main dominants in the syntaxon — Salix myrsinites, S. reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens, and accompanying species — Carex paralella subsp. redowskiana, Saxifraga hirculus; Cyrtomnium hymenophyllum, Orthothecium chryseon; Cladonia pocillum are hemicalcephytes. Ass. Equiseto palustris–Salicetum myrsinitae ass. nov. (Table 3, rel. 7–14, nomenclature type (holotypus) — rel. 9 (author’s number — Van17), north-west of the Bolshezemelskaya tundra, Vangureymusyur Upland, Khekheganyakha River in the middlestream, 10.07.2017, authors — O. V. Lavrinenko, I. A. Lavrinenko; Table 5, syntaxon 7; Fig. 9a and b, 10a and b). Willow–herb–moss communities dominated by Salix myrsinites (up to 30 cm height), green and sphagnum mosses are developed on base-rich soils in microdepressions on watersheds, on gentle slopes to lakes. The main dominants in the syntaxon — Salix myrsinites, S. reticulata, Equisetum palustre, Catoscopium nigritum, Sphagnum warnstorfii and Tomentypnum nitens, and accompanying species — Bartsia alpina, Carex paralella subsp. redowskiana, Equisetum variegatum, Pedicularis oederi, Pinguicula alpina, P. vulgaris, Thalictrum alpinum; Campylium stellatum, Cyrtomnium hymenophyllum, Orthothecium chryseon, Sphagnum teres are hemicalcephytes. The area of the association is located in the southern part of the typical tundra subzone. The communities are well recognizable by the dense brushing of the erect shoots of Equisetum palustre, giving them their characteristic appearance and a bright green aspect. In terms of species composition and habitats, the communities of these 2 associations fit into the framework of the Caricion atrofusco-saxatilis Nordhagen 1943 alliance in the Caricetalia davallianae Br.-Bl. 1950 order in the mire vegetation Scheuchzerio palustris–Caricetea fuscae class. The description of such communities in the East European tundras and, especially on the eastern macroslope of the Polar Urals (Lapshina et al., 2021), significantly pushes the boundaries of alliance area to the east. Ass. Andromedo pumilae–Salicetum reptantis ass. nov. (Table 4, rel. 1–8, nomenclature type (holotypus) — rel. 3 (author’s number — T134a), Malozemelskaya tundra, Kolokolkova Bay, Tobseda village vicinity, 10.07.2011, authors — O. V. Lavrinenko, I. A. Lavrinenko; Table 5, syntaxon 10). Willow (Salix reptans)–herb–dwarf-shrub–moss communities are distributed along the edges of wet low sea terraces in the Malozemelskaya tundra. The presence of dwarf-shrubs (Andromeda polifolia subsp. pumila, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium uliginosum subsp. microphyllum) with a fairly high coverage, and grasses — Carex rariflora, Pedicularis sudetica subsp. arctoeuropaea, Rubus chamaemorus is a characteristic feature of the association. 2 variants are described: typica (Table 4, rel. 1–5; Table 5, syntaxon 8; Fig. 11a and 12a) — in the mainland and var. Sphagnum fimbriatum (Table 4, rel. 6–8; Table 5, syntaxon 9; Fig. 11b and 12b) — to the south, on Lovetskiy Isl. in the Pechora Bay. Aulacomnium palustre most often forms the basis of the ground cover; in var. Sphagnum fimbriatum is codominated by sphagnum (Sphagnum fimbriatum, S. girgensohnii, S. squarrosum) and Hylocomium splendens. In depressions between hillocks, if any, a cover of hygrophilic mosses — Kiaeria glacialis, Polytrichum jensenii, Warnstorfia exannulata, W. sarmentosa is formed. This and previously described (Lavrinenko et al., 2016; Lavrinenko, Lavrinenko, 2018b) associations — Carici rariflorae–Salicetum glaucae Lavrinenko et Lavrinenko 2018, Carici stantis–Aulacomnietum palustris Lavrinenko, Matveyeva et Lavrinenko 2016 and Parnasio palustris–Salicetum reptantis Matveyeva et Lavrinenko ex Lavrinenko et Lavrinenko 2018 (Table 4; Table 5, syntaxa 11–15; Fig. 13–15) united in a new Aulacomnio palustris–Caricion rariflorae alliance in Caricetalia fuscae Koch 1926 nom. ambiguum order and Scheuchzerio palustris–Caricetea fuscae class. All. Aulacomnio palustris–Caricion rariflorae all. nov. Willow–sedge–moss communities with low shrub willows (Salix glauca, S. lanata, S. reptans) occupying extensive wet coastal lowlands, including the rear parts of marshes and the transition stripe from marshes to tundras in the East European sector of the Arctic. Nomenclature type of the alliance (holotypus) — ass. Andromedo pumilae–Salicetum reptantis ass. nov. (Table 4, rel. 1–8; Table 5, syntaxon 10). Diagnostic species of the alliance defined within the Scheuchzerio palustris–Caricetea fuscae class: Empetrum hermaphroditum, Carex rariflora, Luzula wahlenbergii, Pedicularis sudetica subsp. arctoeuropaea and Aulacomnium palustre. Constant species: shrubs Salix glauca and S. reptans and moss Sanionia uncinata. The alliance was proposed on the basis of the structural, physiognomic characteristics of wetland communities and the group significance of the diagnostic species (see Westhoff, Maarel, 1978: 333).

Carici supinae–Betuletea pendulae — new forest vegetation class in steppe zone of West Siberian plain and Transural Plateau

The steppe zone occupies only the southernmost part of West Siberian plain and Transural Plateau, approximately between 54° and 52° N. Zonal communities are species-rich grasslands (Isachenko, Rachkovskaya, 1961; Lapshina, Lavrenko, 1985), but due to relief and geological substrates there are numerous isolated saucer-shaped suffosion depression among flat steppe landscape occupied by small (0.5–1.5 ha) forest massifs. Previously such landscapes were described as “false forest-steppe” or “kolok steppe” following local term “kolok” that is the forest “island”. In some areas such “forest islands” occupy up to 20 % of whole area that makes difficult to identify the border between steppe and forest-steppe zones, in particular in anthropogenically transformed landscape. Until now, there is no information on the structure and floristic composition of such forests, except for brief mentiones in papers on steppe vegetation. The main aim of this paper is to assess the diversity of the deciduous forests in the steppe zone within the study area and establish their syntaxonomical position in the floristic classification. The research is based on 376 original relevés performed by authors in 2007–2016 years in steppe zone from Urals on the west to the Ob river valley on the east. Small intrazonal forest massifs are described as a part of the new class wich contains one order, two alliances and seven associations with four subassociations. Class Carici supinae–Betuletea pendulae class nov. hoc loco. Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) is the order Carici supinae–Betuletalia pendulae ord. nov hoc loco. Diagnostic species: Artemisia austriaca, A. pontica, A. sericea, Carex praecox, C. supina, Festuca rupicola, Medicago falcata, Phleum phleoides, Spiraea crenata, Thymus marschallianus, Veronica spicata, V. spuria; all are mesoxerophytes, most are typical for the steppe class Festuco–Brometea. Order Carici supinae–Betuletalia pendulae ord. nov. hoc loco. Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) is the alliance Sileno nutantis–Betulion pendulae all. nov. hoc loco. Diagnostic species are the same as for class. There are two alliances differing in geographic distribution and habitats within the order. Alliance Sileno nutantis–Betulion pendulae all. nov. hoc loco. Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) is the ass. Sileno nutantis–Betuletum pendulae ass. nov. hoc loco. Diagnostic species: Adenophora lilifolia, Campanula bononiensis, C. wolgensis, Euphorbia subtilis, Galium boreale, Plantago urvillei, Xanthoselinum alsaticum. Association includes deciduous, mostly birch, forests which occur on well-drained plains as small massifs in river valleys and in suffosion depressions. There are four associations differing by habitat moistening within the alliance. Ass. Sileno nutantis–Betuletum pendulae ass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 1, relevé 5 (field number L13-035), N 53.09602°, E 60.91305°) unites forests at the base of the northoriented slopes and on the periphery of the large suffosion depressions throughout the class distribution area. Diagnostic species = alliance diagnostic species.) Ass. Pulsatillo patentis–Betuletum pendulae ass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) —Table 2, relevé 6 (field number L12-134), N 52.46126°, E 60.32398°) includes forest massifs from the driest habitats in the south-western part of the class distribution area near the border between West Siberian plain and Kazakh Upland. Diagnostic species: Achillea nobilis, Antennaria dioica, Gyp- sophila altissima, Helictotrichon desertorum, Hieracium echioides, Onosma simplicissima, Pulsatilla patens, Ve- ronica incana). Subass. Pulsatillo patentis–Betuletum pendulae typicum (Table. 2, relevé 1–13). Physiognomy, no- menclature type and diagnostic species are the same as for the association. Subass. Pulsatillo patentis–Betuletum pendulae populetosum tremulae subass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 2, relevé 17 (field number L15-074), N 52.05014°, E 59.14092°) includes small massifs of aspen forest from western border of the class distribution area. Diagnostic species: Artemisia armeniaca, Asparagus officinalis, Fritillaria ruthenica, Hylotelephium stepposum, Myosotis imitata, Populus tremula (dom.), Salvia stepposa, Stipa pennata). Ass. Brachypodio pinnati–Betuletum pendulae ass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 3, relevé 8 (field number L13-130), N 55.32487, E 64.62582) may be considered as transitional syntaxon between classes Carici supinae–Betuletea pendulae and Brachypodio pinnati–Betuletea pendulae. Diagnostic species: Brachypodium pinnatum, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Polygonatum odoratum). Association includes two subassociations —Brachypodio pinnati–Betuletum pendulae typicum and Brachypodio pinnati–Betuletum pendulae galietosum tinctorii differing by geographical distribution. Ass. Carici distichae–Betuletum pendulae ass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 4, relevé 8 (field number L13-089), N 54.11368, E 61.82870) includes forests in suffosion depressions which are transitional to the class Alnetea glutinosae. Diagnostic species: Calamagrostis canescens, Carex disticha, C. melanostachya, Lysimachia vulgaris, Phalaroides arundinacea, Poa palustris, Ptarmica cartilaginea, Salix cinerea, Veronica longifolia). Alliance Artemisio dracunculi–Betulion pendulae all. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) is the ass. Artemisio rupestris–Betuletum pendulae) includes small massifs of deciduous for- ests in suffosion depressions with poor drainage, more common in eastern part of West Siberian plain. Diagnostic species: Artemisia dracunculus, Berteroa incana, Festuca valesiaca, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Peucedanum morisonii, Rosa laxa). Alliance includes three associa- tions differing by habitat moistening and anthropogenic pressure. Ass. Artemisio rupestris–Betuletum pendulae ass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 5, relevé 5 (field number L16-293), N 53.41704, E 76.61384) includes birch forests in south-eastern part of class the area in suffosion depressions and on ancient lake coastal ramparts. Diagnostic species: Artemisia abrotanum, A. rupestris, Koeleria cristata, Vicia cracca) Ass. Hieracio virosi–Populetum tremulae ass. nov. hoc loco (nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 6, relevé 9 (field number L07-021), N 52.92644, E 79.71519). includes aspen or rare birch forests on sandy terraces of salt lakes. Diagnostic species: Chenopodium album, Hieracium virosum, Leonurus glaucescens, Populus tremula, Ribes aureum) Ass. Berteroo incanae–Betuletum pendulae Lashchinskiy et Lashchinskaya 2012 was previously described from Priobskoe plateau (Lashchinskiy, Lashchinskaya, 2012). There is the well-pronounced difference between new class and previously known syntaxa of the alliance Peucedano morisonii–Betulion pendulae which includes the driest communities in the class Brachy- podio-Betuletea. The identified distribution area of the new class covers the northern part of the steppe zone in the southern part of West Siberian plain from Urals to the Ob river valley. Its northern limit coincides quite well with the border between steppe and forest-steppe zones, while southern one does with the forest boundary on West Siberian plain and Transural Plateau.

Dynamics of vegetation after clearcutting bilberry spruce forests (middle taiga subzone of the European North-East of Russia)

The communities of middle taiga spruce forests (ass. Linnaeo borealis–Piceetum abietis dryopteridetosum var. typica) and secondary communities formed after winter clearcuttings are described (Fig. 1) and classified according Braun-Blanquet (1964) approach using 81 relevés. Ellenberg ecological values (Ellenberg et al., 1991) were used to assess lighting (L), soil moisture (F), acidity (R) and nitrogen (N). The ordination was carried out using the NMS method. Both primary forest and secondary communities are classified as the alliance Piceion excelsae Pawłowskiet al. 1928 within the order Piceetalia excelsae Pawłowski et al. 1928 in the class Vaccinio–Piceetea Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl.et al. 1939. We described 2 associations (incl. 1 new), 3 subassociations (2 new), 2 varieties (1 new), 2 subvarieties, and 2 communities. Ass. Aulacomnio palustris–Calamagrostietum purpureae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): relevé 16 (field № 26p/20), Komi Republic, Ust-Kulom district, two-year cutting place, swath (61.84083° N 54.33778° E, 16.07.2020, author I. A. Likhanova. Diagnostic species (DS): Aulacomnium palustre, Calamagrostis purpurea, Carex globularis, Chamaenerion angustifolium, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum angustifolium. The association includes «young» (succession stage 1(2)-17(18) years after cutting) secondary communities, formed at the swaths and skidding trails. The absence of tree stand results in the increased lighting and soil moisture, which explains an invasion of heliophile and water-resistant species of vascular plants and mosses. After cutting, DS of the primary association and subassociation almost disappear, but those of class and order remain. Species number — 23–54, average — 38. There are 2 subassociations within aasociation. Subass. A. p.–C. p. typicum subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2 relevés 1–16, Fig. 3). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): relevé 16 (field № 26p/20), Komi Republic, Ust-Kulom district, two-year cutting of spruce herb-bilberry-green moss forest at the swath (61.84083° N 54.33778° E , 16.07.2020, author I. A. Likhanova. No own DS. The subassociation includes communities at the swath and skidding trails of 1(2)-year cutting place with poor species richness in comparison with primary forests. Number of species 20–27, average – 24. Subass. A. p.–C. p. avenelletosum flexuosae subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, relevés 17–27, Fig. 4). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco), relevé 25 (field № 13-УК), Komi Republic, Ust-Kulom district, 17-year cutting place, swath (61.99389° N, 54.14778° E , 17.09.2019, author I. A. Likhanova. DS: Avenella flexuosa, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Rubus arcticus.The subassociation includes communities of swaths and skidding trails at 17(18)-year cutting place enriched by heliophile and water-resistant species. The forming forest environment is the reason of high abundance of forest species and emergence of several diagnostic species of primary association and subassociation. The cutting remains are overgrown by epigeous mosses and lichens. Species number — 24–45, average — 33. Community Carex brunnescens (Table 3, relevés 1–12, Fig. 5). DS: Carex brunnescens (dominant), C. canescens, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranella cerviculata (dominant). Syntaxon includes communities at the main skidding trail at 1(2)-year cutting place. Despite high abundance of diagnostic species of the ass. Aulacomnio palustris–Calamagrostietum purpureae, we can’t include the relevés into the association due to high diversity of early succession species and low abundance of DS of both the class Vaccinio–Piceetea sylvestris and the order Piceetalia excelsae. There are numerous undergrowth of Betula pubescens (18 thousand ind./ha). Herb-dwarf shrub and moss layers are formed by pioneer, heliophile and water-resistant species. Forest dwarf shrubs, herbs and mosses occur on the litter remnants. Species number — 20–34, average — 27. Community Salix caprea. (Table 3, relevés 13–22, Fig. 6). DS: Agrostis gigantea, A. tenuis, Carex rhynchophysa, Deschampsia cespitosa, Epilobium palustre, Juncus filiformis, Populus tremula, Salix caprea (dominant), S. myrsinifolia, S. phylicifolia, Sphagnum russowii. The syntaxon includes communities at the main skidding trail of 17(18)-year cutting place. The presence of DS of ass. Aulacomnio palustris–Calamagrostietum purpureae and subass. A. p.–C. p. avenelletosum flexuosae as well as the prevalence of water resistant and early succession species and low abundance of DS of class Vaccinio–Piceetea sylvestris and order Piceetalia excelsae are character. Tree stand is formed by young trees of Betula pubescens (mean density is 21 thousand ind./ha). Shrub layer is formed by wiilows. Herb-dwarf shrub layer is dominated by species, preferring water logging, and species of disturbed habitats. Species number — 36–45, average — 40. Subass. Linnaeo borealis–Piceetum abietis dryopteridetosum var. Betula pubescens (Table 1, relevés 13–22). DS: Betula pubescens (dominant), Milium effusum, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus. The variant includes communities at 48(49)-year cutting place. The tree lyer height and crown density are comparable to those of the indigenous spruce forest, however, the proportion of birch is higher. Vascular plant DS of ass. Linnaeo borealis–Piceetum abietis and subass. dryopteridetosum are registered, but the abundance of moss DS is low. Many forest species become abundant in the herb-dwarf shrub layer. Moss layer is inhibited by leaf litter. Species number — 29–45, average — 36. There are 2 subvarieties: typica (communities at the swath and skidding trails) and Calamagrostis purpurea (main skidding trail). The scheme of vegetation succession after clearcuttings of spruce small herb-bilberry-green moss forests (Linnaeo borealis–Piceetum abietis dryopteridetosum var. typica) (Fig. 10) is made on the results of NMS-ordination (Fig. 9) and the data on the restoration period and preferences of syntaxa to the certain technological elements of the cutting place. The following succession series are described: at the swaths and skidding trails — Aulacomnio palustris–Calamagrostietum purpureae typicum → A. p.–C. p. avenelletosum flexuosae → Linnaeo borealis–Piceetum abietis dryopteridetosum var. Betula pubescens subvar. typica → L. b.–P. a. dryopteridetosum var. typica; at the skidding trails – community Carex brunnescens →community Salix caprea → Linnaeo borealis–Piceetum abietis dryopteridetosum var. Betula pubescens subvar. Calamagrostis purpurea → L. b.–P. a. dryopteridetosum var. typica. In communities of different ages at swaths and skidding trails, the species richness of vascular plants (16–18 species/100 m2) and mosses (8–10 species/100 m2) is lower compare to the primary spruce forest (19 and 14 species/100 m2 respectively). The species richness of vascular plants at 17-year and 48-year communities of the main skidding trails (27 species/100 m2) is higher than in the primary forest due to the invasion of pioneer, meadow and mire species; that of mosses is lower (8–12 species/100 m2). Thus, the cutting has a negative impact on species diversity, which is expressed in forest species loss. The floristic composition of the disturbed forest community is not restored even fifty years after anthropogenic impact.

To the syntaxonomy of the Middle Urals weeding vegetation

The decrease in the crop area and changes in their ratio have led to changes in weed vegetation in the Middle Urals, where its cenoflora was studied relatively well (Tretyakova, 2006; Tretyakova, Kondratkov, 2018; Kondratkov, Tretyakova, 2018; 2019 a, b), while community diversity so far has not yet been assessed. The first results of the ecological and floristic classification of basic crop communities (wheat, barley, oats, corn, potatoes, peas, rapeseed etc.) in six botanical and geographical regions of the taiga and forest-steppe zones (Kulikov et al., 2013) within the Sverdlovsk region, based on the analysis of 160 relevés performed by A. S. Tretyakova, P. V. Kondratkov and N. Yu. Grudanov in 2019, are presented. Communities are classified within the order Aperetalia spicae-venti J. Tx. et Tx. in Malato-Beliz et al. 1960 of the class Papaveretea rhoeadis S. Brullo et al. 2001 nom. conserv. propos. and assigned to the alliance Scleranthion annui (Kruseman et Vlieger 1939 nom. conserv. propos.) Sissingh in Westhoff et al. 1946), which represents the most mesophytic types of weed vegetation in the Urals. Three associations allocated in alliance (two for the first time): Solano nigri–Erodietum cicutarii ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, syntaxon 7; Table 4); nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 4, rel. 11 (number in database — 25): Sverdlovsk Region, Sysertskiy district, Kunarskoe village environs, 23.07.2019, authors — A. S. Tretyakova, P. V. Kondratkov);Lamio amplexicaulis–Stellarietum mediae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, syntaxon 8; table 5; nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — Table 5, rel. 10 (number in database — 27): Sverdlovsk Region, Sysertskiy district, Shaidurovo village environs, 22.07.2019, authors — A. S. Tretyakova, P. V. Kondratkov); ass. Euphorbio helioscopiae–Fumarietum officinalis Khasanova et al. 2018. The last one includes two variants. Two unranked communities are also described. Distribution areas of syntaxa cover the southern taiga and pre-forest-steppe pine-birch forests subzones of the taiga zone and the northern forest-steppe subzone of the forest-steppe zone. Habitats are confined mainly to gray forest soils, in rare cases — leached chernozems. The mostly wide distributed is the ass. Euphorbio helioscopiae-Fumarietum officinalis, also common to the south of the study area, in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Аss. Lamio amplexicaulis–Stellarietum mediae is identified in five botanical and geographical districts within the Sverdlovsk region. The confluence with crops and the accompanying system of agriculturе is different. The species composition of the established syntaxa was compared with the associations of the alliance Scleranthion annui described earlier in the Republic of Bashkortostan. The species richness of the latter is generally higher. Differences in species composition of diagnostic groups were revealed. There is decreasing of constancy of Tripleurospermum inodorum, Centaurea cyanus, Polygonum aviculare, Raphanus raphanistrum in the cenoflora of the first one, and both diagnostic species of the more xerophytic alliance Caucalidion lappulae von Rochow 1951 (Galeopsis bifida, Persicaria lapathifolia, Silene noctiflora, Galeopsis ladanum, Melilotus officinalis),apophytes of meadow pasture and forest edges (Medicago lupulina, Trifolium hybridum, Trifolium medium, Achillea millefolium,etc.), xeromesiphytic species (Avena fatua, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria viridis, Euphorbia virgata). The latter is probably associated with significant reduction in the field area of some crops (sunflower, flax, etc.). The differences in species composition and ecology of the compared syntaxa are illustrated by the results of ordination analysis. Weed communities of the Southern Urals are localized on the left side of the DCA-ordination diagram, these of the Middle Urals — on the right one. There are changes from the most xerophytic communities of the ass. Linario vulgari-Lactucetum serriolae to the most mesophytic ones of associations Lamio amplexicaulis–Stellarietum mediae and Euphorbio helioscopiae–Fumarietum officialalinae along the first axis. The second axis reveals the change in species composition under the influence of the agronomic factor — culture and the corresponding agricultural system and communities of winter cereals (associations Consolido regali–Centaureetum cyanae and Galeopsetum bifidae) are replaced by communities of spring cereals and row crops (corn, potatoes, peas, rapeseed), which are assigned to the associations Linario vulgari–Lactucetum serriolae and Solanо nigri–Erodietum cicutarii.

The All-Russian scientific conference with international participation «XI Galkina’s Readings» (St. Petersburg, April 21, 2021)

The annual anniversary conference in memoriam of Ekaterina Alekseevna Galkina — the “XI Galkina’s Readings” (Proceedings…, 2021) was organized by the Mire section of the Russian Botanical Society on April 21, 2021. It was dedicated to the 50-years since publishing of monography by N. Ya. Kats “Mires of the Globe” (1971). In 2021 it was one-day online conference. It was attended by 65 participants. The main topic to discuss was “Geographic diversity of mires”. Much attention was focused on problems of mire regionality, typology of mires and mire distribution. Great interest among the participants was caused by report on montane mires. The final discussion was focused on mire terminology, interrelations between forest and mire and research perspectives.

Communities with Myrica gale L. in mires of the Gulf of Finland coast (St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region)

Сommunities of Myrica gale L. (sweet gale), their ecology and geography in coastal mires of the Gulf of Finland within St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region on the Southeastern border of their range are described based on 70 relevés, made in 1981–2018. This species is included in the Red Data Books of Russia (2008), Leningrad Region (2018), St. Petersburg (2018), and Republic of Karelia (2007). The distribution of the communities in the studied area is as follows (Fig. 1) — the Yuntolovskiy reserve (the largest population), vicinity of the Lisiy Nos ­settlement, forest-park “Gagarka”, Tarkhovskiy Mys, Yuntolovskiy fo­rest-park (within St. Petersburg); vicinity of the Pesochnoe ­settlement, the Bolshoy Berye­zovyy Isl., near the port “Primorsk” (the Nor­thern coast of the Gulf of Finland) and the vicinity of Bolshaya Izhora ­settlement (Southern coast of the latter) in the Leningrad Region area. Communities are found mainly in coastal mires of various types (raised bogs, transitional mires, fens) in the place of former lagoons and in inter-dune depressions in different trophic conditions; most diverse in the last two. Communities are assigned into 12 associations, two of which with the shrub layer formed by Myrica gale. Sphagnetum myricosum galis is the most common association in transitional mires (Table 3). The communities are two-layers: Myrica gale shrub one and closed moss layer of Sphagnum species of diffe­rent ecological groups. The association is subdivided into 3 subassociations by dominanting Sphagnum species and groups of determinant species: sphagnosum angustifolii, sphagnosum flexuosi, and sphagnosum teretis. The communities of this association are located­ in newly formed mires, and their species composition is in the process of formation. These are succession stages between the fens and transitional mires. The ass. Myricetum caricosum lasiocarpae (table 4) includes communities of fens with close (50 to 80 %) Myrica gale shrub layer. Carex lasiocarpa is the dominant of the herb layer, in some communities there is the lower herb sublayer of Comarum palustre. There is no moss layer. Association Myricetum comaroso–betulosum with sparse Betula pubescens 5–12 m high tree layer is also recorded in fens (Table 4). Communities of the ass. Salicetum myricoso–paludiherbosum with the dominance of shrub willows and Myrica gale are rather widespread in coastal fens. They have closed (up to 100 %) shrub layer formed by various willows and M. gale. The composition and cover of paludal herbaceous species is variable, the only constant, sometimes abundant, species is Comarum palustre. The association is subdivided into 3 subassociations (salicosum phylicifoliae, salicosum phylicifoliae-myrsinifoliae and salicosum rosmarinifoliae-myrsinifoliae) according to the dominating willows and mire grasses. Besides the above associations with high abundance of Myrica gale, this species occurs with low abundance in the communities of other, often widespread mire associations, as their coastal variants (Tables 2–4). The discussed community types in the Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg have regional features and differ in species composition from the sweet gale communities of Western and Northern Europe. Due to the rarity in the European part of Russia communities with both low abundance and dominance of Myrica gale need protection as well as their habitats.