Dynamics of the Grass and Shrub Layer Structure in Birch Stands of the Krasnoyarsk Forest-Steppe. P. 183–193

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630*182:571.51

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-3-183-193

Abstract

The paper studies one of the most vulnerable structural elements of birch phytocenoses in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe – the grass and shrub layer. This research aims at assessing anthropogenic changes in the grass and shrub layer of birch stands growing in an area of long-term human impact in Krasnoyarsk and in natural conditions during the period of 2017–2022. The research was carried out at the monitoring sample plots laid out in mixed- grass birch forests growing in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe with the following parameters: II–IV quality class, V–VIII age class, and stand density of 0.6–0.9. At each site, 30 (1 m2) survey plots were set up to assess the species composition, projective cover, and abundance of understory species and living ground cover. The assessment was based on a comparison with the results of the 2017 monitoring surveys. The 2022 studies led to the conclusion that changes in the grass and shrub layer of mixed-grass birch forests in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe are caused by human activities (recreational and livestock-related). The increased recreational pressure on vegetation leads to its synanthropization. At the sample plot 1, an increase in the livestock-related load leads to an increase in species diversity and synanthropization index. At the sample plot 2, an increase in species diversity and synanthropization index is due to the introduction of synanthropic species. At the sample plot 3, a reduction in recreational pressure leads to the demutation of the birch community: an increase in species diversity accompanied by a decrease in synanthropization index. At the sample plots 4 and 7, species diversity indices are decreasing. At the sample plot 6, with recreational pressure remaining constant, species diversity increases due to the introduction of species that do not belong to the synanthropic group. In the undisturbed sample plot 5, the species composition of the living ground cover, as well as its structure and phytomass stock, have not undergone significant changes.

Acknowledgments: The research was carried out within the framework of the basic fundamental research project of the V.N. Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS, titled “Biodiversity of Siberian Forests: Ecological and Dynamic, Genetic and Breeding, Physical and Chemical, Resource and Technological Aspects” (FWES-2024-0028), registration number – 124012900557-0.

Authors

Irina A. Goncharova^1,2*, Candidate of Biology, Research Scientist; ResearcherID: AAF-6890-2019, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3495-9979
Larisa N. Skripal’shchikova¹, Candidate of Biology, Assoc. Prof., Senior Research Scientist; ResearcherID: AAF-7714-2019, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2294-497X
Aleksei P. Barchenkov¹, Candidate of Biology, Senior Research Scientist; ResearcherID: AAH-5825-2021, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3964-480X

Affiliation

¹V.N. Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS, ul. Akademgorodok, 50/28, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, 660036; iagoncharova007@mail.ru*, lara@ksc.krasn.ru, alexbarchenkov@mail.ru
²Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum, Krasnoyarsk, ul. Dubrovinskogo, 84, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, 660049; iagoncharova007@mail.ru*

Keywords

birch communities, grass and shrub layer, disturbed forest community, Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe, phytocenosis species diversity, synanthropization, synanthropization index, species diversity index, anthropogenic pressure

For citation

Goncharova I.A., Skripal’shchikova L.N., Barchenkov A.P. Dynamics of the Grass and Shrub Layer Structure in Birch Stands of the Krasnoyarsk Forest-Steppe. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2026, no. 3, pp. 183–193. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-3-183-193

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