Spatial distribution of small-leaved forests in the Kuznetsk Depression

This article concerns the spatial distribution patterns of small-leaved forests in the Kuznetsk Depression, where these communities are the forest components of zonal vegetation. Two levels of spatial forest heterogeneity are described. Depending on mesorelief, forest communities are organized into topo-ecological series, which differ in sets of components and area covered by different elements. On a larger scale, depending on climatic features in different parts of the depression, the spatial pattern of communities and topo-ecological series reflect the zonal structures. In general, the spatial forest distribution is considered as follows: the central part of the depression is covered by Artemisio – Betuletum communities in combination with Calamagrostio – Betuletum forests; approaching the eastern border of the depression, they change to Trollio – Populetum and Campanulo – Betuletum combinations; the southern part is occupied by communities of Campanulo – Betuletum, together with Saussureo – Populetum forests; in the north-western part the only forest association is Primulo – Betuletum. Throughout the entire region, in places with bad drainage occur communities of Carici – Betuletum. Based on climatic parameters, forest-steppe and sub-taiga sub-belts can be distinguished. Forest-steppe in its turn can be divided into an original fragment of plain forest-steppe and typical forest-steppe. In the eastern part of the depression, a sub-taiga sub-belt developed but in the western part, it exists outside the depression

Spatial distribution of small-leaved forests in the Kuznetsk Depression

This article concerns the spatial distribution patterns of small-leaved forests in the Kuznetsk Depression, where these communities are the forest components of zonal vegetation. Two levels of spatial forest heterogeneity are described. Depending on mesorelief, forest communities are organized into topo-ecological series, which differ in sets of components and area covered by different elements. On a larger scale, depending on climatic features in different parts of the depression, the spatial pattern of communities and topo-ecological series reflect the zonal structures. In general, the spatial forest distribution is considered as follows: the central part of the depression is covered by Artemisio – Betuletum communities in combination with Calamagrostio – Betuletum forests; approaching the eastern border of the depression, they change to Trollio – Populetum and Campanulo – Betuletum combinations; the southern part is occupied by communities of Campanulo – Betuletum, together with Saussureo – Populetum forests; in the north-western part the only forest association is Primulo – Betuletum. Throughout the entire region, in places with bad drainage occur communities of Carici – Betuletum. Based on climatic parameters, forest-steppe and sub-taiga sub-belts can be distinguished. Forest-steppe in its turn can be divided into an original fragment of plain forest-steppe and typical forest-steppe. In the eastern part of the depression, a sub-taiga sub-belt developed but in the western part, it exists outside the depression

Phosphorus status of soils from contrasting forested ecosystems in southwestern Siberia: effects of microbiological and physicochemical properties

The Siberian forest is a tremendous repository of terrestrial organic carbon (C), which may increase owing to climate change, potential increases in ecosystem productivity and hence C sequestration. Phosphorus (P) availability could limit the C sequestration potential, but tree roots may mine the soil deep to increase access to mineral P. Improved understanding and quantification of the processes controlling P availability in surface and deep soil layers of Siberian forest ecosystems are thus required. The objectives of the present study were to (1) evaluate P status of surface and deep soil horizons from different forest plots in southwestern Siberia and (2) assess the effects of physicochemical soil properties, microbiological activity and decomposition processes on soil P fractions and availability. Results revealed high concentrations of total P (879–1042 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> in the surface mineral soils) and plant-available phosphate ions. In addition, plant-available phosphate ions accumulated in the subsoil, suggesting that deeper root systems may mine sufficient available P for the trees and the potentially enhanced growth and C sequestration, may not be P-limited. Because the proportions of total organic P were large in the surface soil layers (47–56% of total P), we concluded that decomposition processes may play a significant role in P availability. However, microbiological activity and decomposition processes varied between the study plots and higher microbiological activity resulted in smaller organic P fractions and consequently larger available inorganic P fractions. In the studied Siberian soils, P availability was also controlled by the physicochemical soil properties, namely Al and Fe oxides and soil pH

Contribution to the flora of Asian and European countries: new national and regional vascular plant records, 4

The paper presents new records for 20 vascular plant species from 13 Eurasian countries. Four taxa (Calamagrostis sichuanensis, Klasea dissecta, Ptilagrostis milleri and Stipa klimesii) are reported from China, four (Aconogonon valerii, Carex siderosticta, Poa tanfiljewii and Potamogeton × subobtusus) from Russia, three (Amorpha fruticosa, Carduus acanthoides and Plantago minuta) from Tajikistan, two (Achillea sergievskiana and Delphinium barlykense) from Kazakhstan, one (Calamagrostis effusiflora) from Bhutan and India, one (Campanula wolgensis) from Mongolia, one (Orobanche coerulescens) from Georgia, two (Dysphania geoffreyi and Ptilagrostis milleri) from Nepal, one (Stipa × alaica) from Afghanistan, one (Stipa × manrakica) from Kyrgyzstan, one (Ranunculus × gluckii) from Poland and one (Sporobolus cryptandrus) from Italy. Four of the taxa presented (Amorpha fruticosa, Carduus acanthoides, Carex siderosticta and Sporolobus cryptandrus) are regarded as alien to the studied areas, whereas the remaining 16 are native elements to the flora of the countries. For each species synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiation of the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given country, as well as a list of recorded localities (often far from the previously known areas) are presented. Based on the spikelet morphology, we have proposed in Ptilagrostis a new section Barkworthia M. Nobis, A. Nobis & A. Nowak, which comprises two species Ptilagrostis yadongensis and Ptilagrostris milleri, with distinctly unequal glumes, lemmas and paleas

Contribution to the flora of Asian and European countries : new national and regional vascular plant records, 4

The paper presents new records for 20 vascular plant species from 13 Eurasian countries. Four taxa (Calamagrostis sichuanensis, Klasea dissecta, Ptilagrostis milleri and Stipa klimesii) are reported from China, four (Aconogonon valerii, Carex siderosticta, Poa tanfiljewii and Potamogeton × subobtusus) from Russia, three (Amorpha fruticosa, Carduus acanthoides and Plantago minuta) from Tajikistan, two (Achillea sergievskiana and Delphinium barlykense) from Kazakhstan, one (Calamagrostis effusiflora) from Bhutan and India, one (Campanula wolgensis) from Mongolia, one (Orobanche coerulescens) from Georgia, two (Dysphania geoffreyi and Ptilagrostis milleri) from Nepal, one (Stipa × alaica) from Afghanistan, one (Stipa × manrakica) from Kyrgyzstan, one (Ranunculus × gluckii) from Poland and one (Sporobolus cryptandrus) from Italy. Four of the taxa presented (Amorpha fruticosa, Carduus acanthoides, Carex siderosticta and Sporolobus cryptandrus) are regarded as alien to the studied areas, whereas the remaining 16 are native elements to the flora of the countries. For each species synonyms, general distribution, habitat preferences, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiation of the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given country, as well as a list of recorded localities (often far from the previously known areas) are presented. Based on the spikelet morphology, we have proposed in Ptilagrostis a new section Barkworthia M. Nobis, A. Nobis & A. Nowak, which comprises two species Ptilagrostis yadongensis and Ptilagrostris milleri, with distinctly unequal glumes, lemmas and paleas