In order to expand the possibilities of soil-cover remote monitoring and improve prognostic models of active-layer depth dynamics in connection with global climatic changes, the verification of correspondence between plant and soil components of subarctic landscapes is necessary. This is most relevant for the forest-tundra zone,where the variety and mosaicity of soils and vegetation is great due to its ecotonic position. The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of vegetation with the characteristics of cryogenic soils and the dynamics of the active layer in forest-tundra landscapes. Data were obtained during monitoring studies at key sites in diverse landscapes of forest-tundra in the vicinity of Labytnangi. It was revealed that the thickness of the organogenic horizons, as well as the value of the moss phytomass, determine the active-layer thickness. A close connection with relief and soils allows the use of vegetation as an indicator of the soil texture and the depth of active-layer occurrence and features.
Keywords: plant communities, cryogenic soils, active layer, landscape, forest-tundra, Western Siberi

Morozova, L M

Nekrasova, O A

Radchenko, T A

Valdayskikh, V V

KnE Life Sciences

English

KnE Publishing Platform

Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant CommunitiesThe fourth International Scientific Conference onEcology and Geography of Plants and Plant CommunitiesVolume 2018Conference PaperThe Indicative Potential of the Forest-TundraLandscape ComponentT. A. Radchenko1, V. V. Valdayskikh1, L. M. Morozova2, and O. A. Nekrasova11Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, 620000 Ekaterinburg,Russia2Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620144Ekaterinburg, RussiaAbstractIn order to expand the possibilities of soil-cover remote monitoring and improveprognostic models of active-layer depth dynamics in connection with global climaticchanges, the verification of correspondence between plant and soil components ofsubarctic landscapes is necessary. This is most relevant for the forest-tundra zone,where the variety and mosaicity of soils and vegetation is great due to its ecotonicposition. The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of vegetation with thecharacteristics of cryogenic soils and the dynamics of the active layer in forest-tundralandscapes. Data were obtained during monitoring studies at key sites in diverselandscapes of forest-tundra in the vicinity of Labytnangi. It was revealed that thethickness of the organogenic horizons, as well as the value of the moss phytomass,determine the active-layer thickness. A close connection with relief and soils allowsthe use of vegetation as an indicator of the soil texture and the depth of active-layeroccurrence and features.Keywords: plant communities, cryogenic soils, active layer, landscape, forest-tundra,Western Siberia1. IntroductionVegetation is a physiognomic element of the landscape. The potential for a moreaccurate assessment of hidden landscape component states, in particular soils, overvast spaces using vegetation is increasing with the development and improvementof satellite surveillance systems. As a result of numerous studies [1–6], a close rela-tionship between vegetation and the topography, soils and active layer thickness wasestablished. This allows us to use vegetation as an informative indicator of edaphicfactors, depth and the peculiarities of the active layer in permafrost distribution. ThisHow to cite this article: T. A. Radchenko, V. V. Valdayskikh, L. M. Morozova, and O. A. Nekrasova, (2018), “The Indicative Potential of the Forest-Tundra Landscape Component” in The fourth International Scientific Conference on Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communities, KnE LifeSciences, pages 160–167. DOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234Page 160Corresponding Author:T. A. Radchenkov_vald@mail.ruReceived: 12 September 2018Accepted: 15 October 2018Published: 29 October 2018Publishing services provided byKnowledge ET. A. Radchenko et al. Thisarticle is distributed under theterms of the Creative CommonsAttribution License, whichpermits unrestricted use andredistribution provided that theoriginal author and source arecredited.Selection and Peer-reviewunder the responsibility of theEcology and Geography ofPlants and Plant CommunitiesConference Committee.Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesis important for the forest-tundra zone for two reasons: the great variety and mosaicof both soils and vegetation and the zone’s particular vulnerability to climate changes.The purpose of our research is to study the relationship of vegetation with thecharacteristics of cryogenic soils and the dynamics of the seasonal layer in variousforest-tundra landscapes of Western Siberia. Research objectives: i – to identify therelationship between vegetation and soils in different landscapes of the forest-tundraecotone; ii – to verify the indicative potential of vegetation for assessing the status anddepth of the cryogenic soil active layer. Verification of the correspondence betweenplant and soil components of forest-tundra landscapes can, on one hand, contribute tothe expansion of soil cover remote monitoring possibilities: on the other hand, it canimprove the prognostic models of the dynamics of exogenous processes occurring insubarctic landscapes, including in connection with global climate changes [7].2. Methods2.1. Studied areaThe objects of research were the vegetation and soils of the western part of the WestSiberian plain on the left bank of the Ob River in the Labytnangi area (Yamalo-NenetsAutonomous District, 66∘39′25″ N; 66∘25′05″ E). According to climatic division, the keysites are within the Atlantic–Arctic moderately cold humid area [8]. The average annualtemperature of the territory is –7.1∘С, the sum of the temperatures more than 10∘С isequal to 800∘С and the annual precipitation is near 400 mm. The studied area belongsto the forest-tundra zone. The relief is a flat-sloping, hilly ridge with deep river valleys.Soil-forming rocks are sandy, clay and largely rocky. The zonal vegetation is typical forforest-tundra: a combination of dwarf birch moss-lichen (lichen-moss) and grass-mosstundras and bogs, often with individual larches and open forests of larch, spruce orspruce-larch dwarf birch. Tundra vegetation is confined to the plains and gentle slopes,while open forests and thickets of dwarf birch with willows are limited to depressionsand the valleys of streams and rivers. Lichen tundra is typical to well-drained areaswith little snow in winter.2.2. Sites and plotsThree key sites each equal to 1 km2 were studied so that they can be deciphered byremote methods according to the type of vegetation (Figure 1). The key sites wereDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 161Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesselected in accordance with the three main types of vegetation (tundra, peatbog andforest) and different parent rock textures (sand (sandy loam) and clay (loam)). Thealtitude above sea level of all key areas varies slightly (from 90 to 110 m). The sitesare located on a line from the northwest to the southeast. The key site vegetationcover was mapped at a scale of 1:10 000.The elementary chorological unit is a plant unit, conjugated on the area with acharacteristic element of mesorelief. After the analysis of the geobotanical maps ofthe key sites, the most representative typical vegetation was chosen in each of them:stationary monitoring plots (SMP) were selected with exact geographical coordinates.In key site № 2, two stationary monitoring plots were established. Thus, all four SMPswere placed in typical forest-tundra landscapes, differing in terms of the location inthe relief, soil-forming rocks, soil and vegetation type and type of tundra [9]. SMP sizewas 10x10 m in tundra (without forest stand) and 20x20 m in open forests.Figure 1: Location of standard monitoring plots (SMP).2.3. VegetationThe species composition and structure of vegetation were studied in all SMPs by thetraditional method of geobotanical description during the maximum development ofthe grass and shrub layer. Plant associations were determined, the stocks and struc-ture of the aboveground phytomass were studied and the state of vegetation andsoils was characterized. The stock of the aboveground phytomass was determined bythe method of bevels from the accounting areas 25x25 cm in length in a 16–25-foldDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 162Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesrepetition in each association. The aboveground phytomass was cut at the level of theboundary between living (green) and dead (brown) mosses. During the disassemblyof bevels, fractions were isolated: cereals and sedges, forbs, shrubs, dwarf shrubs,lichens and mosses. The weighing of the fractions was carried out in an air-dry statewith an accuracy of 0.1 g. The obtained numerical data were processed statisticallyusing the program Statistics: stocks are given in the text in g/m2.2.4. Soils and active layerAt each key site, 5–8 soil sections were dug near the SMP in order to obtain thesoil morphological characteristics and sampling necessary for soil diagnostics. Thesoils were classified in accordance with the World Reference Base [10]. Temperatureand moisture sensors were installed in the soil near each SMPs. Measurements wereperformed throughout the period of field research. Automatic sensors, produced byDecagon Devices, were installed in one wall of the vertical soil section at depths of2–10–20–50–100 cm when possible, and to the permafrost table when it was not. Thedepth of the STS in the SMP was measured with a probe with an accuracy of 1 cm onthe same SMP area of 10×10 m in steps of 1 m at the same time in mid-August. A totalof 121 measurements were made per year on each SMP.3. ResultsThe variability of soil and vegetation cover at the key sites is caused by the diversityof their position in the relief and by the rocks (Table 1).T 1: Characteristics of key sites and stationary monitoring plots.Characteristic Key site1 2 3Position in mesorelief Flat-slopingvalley side of thebottomSlightly inclined watershed area Flat watershedareaStationary monitoringplot, №SMP1 SMP2.1 SMP2.2 SMP3Rock texture Sand Sandy-loam Silt-loam ClayVegetation Openbirch-spruce-larch-forest dwarfshrub-moss-lichenMottled-medallion tundradwarf shrub-moss-lichenHilly tundraledum-dwarfbirch-dwarfshrub-lichen andmossFlat-knob bogdwarfbirch-ledum-cloudberry-sphagnumDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 163Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant CommunitiesCharacteristic Key site1 2 3Synfolium edificators Larix sibirica,Betula tortuosa,Ledum palustre,Vacciniumuliginosum, V.vitis-idaea,Empetrum nigrum,Carex globularis,Hylocomiumsplendens,Polytrichumspp.,Cladoniagracilis, Cetrarialaevigata,Stereocaulonglareosum,CladinaBetula nana,Ledumdecumbens,Vacciniumuliginosum,Empetrumhermaphroditum,Carex arctisibirica,Cladoniarangiferina, C.arbuscula, C.gracilis,Polytrichum ssp.,Dicranum sspBetula nana,Ledum palustre,Vacciniumuliginosum, V.vitis-idaea,Empetrum nigrum,Carex tripartitaBetula nana,Ledumdecumbens, Rubuschamaemorus, V.vitis-idaea,Eriophorummedium, Carexglobularis.Phytomass stocks(excluding trees, g/m2):Shrubs 0.7 ± 0.1 51.7 ± 6.6 183.8 ± 11.04 138.0 ± 8.2Dwarf shrubs 172.2 ± 9.2 75.5 ± 3.6 106.3 ± 2.5 24.7 ± 1.3Grasses 3.7 ± 0.3 2.9 ± 0.4 22.3 ± 1.4 73.6 ± 4.4Mosses 94.1 ± 4.1 32.4 ± 1.7 238.8 ± 5.4 433.1 ± 7.7Lycens 86.2 ± 6.3 107.6 ± 4.5 164.8 ± 10.0 28.3 ± 1.8Total 356.9 ± 10.2 270.1 ± 9.8 716.0 ± 15.0 697.7 ± 14.6Soil type Albic Podzol Albic PodzolsGelicHistic TurbicCryosolReductaquicHistic CryosolSoil horizons O-E-Bhs-Bg-BCg O-E-Bhs-Br H1-H2-Bg-Br-BCg H1-H2-H3-CgOrganogenic horizon(O, H) thickness, cm4.3 ± 2.0 3.7 ± 2.4 18.7 ± 8.9 33.0 ± 7.1Active layer depth, cm(2012–2017 yy.)> 300 115–190 56–93 33–45Source: Authors’ own work.The data show that as the position in the relief changes from the valley side tothe depression and/or the soil texture changes from sandy to clay, the active layerdepth decreases. This is connected with the drainage weakening and the occurrenceDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 164Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesof moisture stagnation in this row. The rapid runoff of moisture in well drained soilsintensifies the initially higher thermal conductivity of the solid phase of sandy soilscompared to clayey soils [11], as a result of which the thermal regime of sandy, well-drained soils contrasts more than do clay soils (Figure 2(a)).Sandy soils warm up in the summer faster than clay soils: under the cryolithozoneforest-tundra conditions, this leads to a deeper active layer. Under such conditions,mainly open forests with a predominance of Larix sibirica are formed. In contrast, withpoor drainage and moisture stagnation slight thawing occurs, and plant communitiesare formed with the predominance of Betula nana, Ledum decumbens, Ledum palustre,Rubus chamaemorus and Eriophorum medium, accumulating peat horizons of consid-erable thickness in the soils. The latter, in turn, strengthens moisture stagnation andserves as a thermal insulator (Figure 2(b)), further increasing the contrast between thethermal conductivity of the studied soils. Living phytomass also serves as an effectivethermal insulator.Thus, the composition of vegetation is quite clearly determined by the conditions ofdrainage. Woody (mainly larch) communities are confined to sandy soils and dissectedreliefs with a good drain base. Mottled-medallion tundra is formed on sandy soils,while less dissected relief, mottled-medallion tundra is formed on the same elementsof the relief, but on clay soils. Peat communities prefer depressions of the relief on clayrocks.Figure 2: Temperature profile of the standard monitoring site soils (average values for July 2017 at 1 pm)and the relationship of active layer depth with soil organic horizon thickness. Source: Authors’ own work.4. ConclusionStable links between types of plant communities and edaphic factors have been estab-lished for the forest-tundra of the western part of the West Siberian plain. The edaphicDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 165Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiescomponents of the forest-tundra are extremely diverse in the landscapes under study,which is expressed in a variety of soil types and in the depth of the active layer: thisis primarily due to the mesorelief and the texture of the soil-forming rocks. Thesefactors determine the value of the territory’s drainability, and, as a consequence, thevegetation community. In turn, vegetation through feedbacks largely determines thedepth of the active layer due to the thickness of the organogenic horizons (peat) andthe amount of phytomass, primarily mosses. For the purposes of remote permafrostmonitoring and predicting its condition, the existing landscape diversity can be sim-plified to the four most typical and easily identifiable vegetation types (larch openforests, mottled-medallion lichen tundra, hilly tundra dwarf shrub-moss tundra andflat-knob bogs) contrasting in terms of the latent edaphic components.AcknowledgmentThis work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Fed-eration within the framework of the state assignment No. 6.7696.2017/8.9 (field workand data analysis of Radchenko TA, Valdayskikh VV) and (data analysis of MorozovaLM), as well as by RFBR research project No. 18-04-00714 (data analysis of NekrasovaOA).References[1] Wang, G., Liu, L., and Liu, G. (2010). Impacts of grassland vegetation cover on theactive-layer thermal regime, Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Permafrostand Periglacial Processes, vol. 21, no. 4. pp. 335–344.[2] Genxu, W., Guangsheng, L., Chunjie, L., et al. (2012). The variability of soilthermal and hydrological dynamics with vegetation cover in a permafrost region.Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, vol. 162–163, pp. 44–57.[3] Almeida, I., Schaefer, C., and Fernandes, R. (2014). Active layer thermal regime atdifferent vegetation covers at Lions Rump, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica.Geomorphology, vol. 225, pp. 36–46.[4] Chang, X., Jin, H., and Zhang, Y. (2015). Thermal Impacts of Boreal Forest vegetationon active layer and permafrost soils in Northern Da Xing’anling (Hinggan)mountains, Northeast China. Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, vol. 47, no. 2, pp.267–279.DOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 166Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communities[5] Fisher, J. P., Estop-Aragones, C., and Thierry, A. (2016). The influence of vegetationand soil characteristics on active-layer thickness of permafrost soils in BorealForest. Global Change Biology, vol. 22, no. 9, pp. 3127–3140.[6] Anisimov, O. A. and Sherstyukov, A. B. (2016). Assessment of the natural andclimatic factor role in changes to the permafrost zone of Russia. Cryosphere of theEarth, vol. XX, no. 2, pp. 90–99.[7] Dantec-Nédélec, S., Ottlé, C., Wang, T., et al. (2017). Testing the capability ofORCHIDEE land surface model to simulate Arctic ecosystems: Sensitivity analysisand site-level model calibration. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, vol.9, no. 2, pp. 1212–1230.[8] National Atlas of Russia. Nature and Ecology. (2008). Moscow: Astrel, Roskartografia.[9] Valdayskikh, V., Nekrasova, O., Jouzel, J., et al. (2013). Some characteristics of forest-tundra (West Siberia) soil groups distinguished on the basis of thermal properties.Prace Geograficzne, zeszyt, vol. 135, pp. 73–86.[10] World Reference Base for Soil Resources. (2014). Rome: Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations.[11] Shein, E. V. (2005). Course of Soil Physics. Moscow: MSU.DOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 167

The Indicative Potential of the Forest-Tundra Landscape Component

Radchenko, T. A. (T)

Valdayskikh, V. V. (V)

Morozova, L. M. (L)

Nekrasova, O. A. (O)

Neliti

In order to expand the possibilities of soil-cover remote monitoring and improve prognostic models of active-layer depth dynamics in connection with global climatic changes, the verification of correspondence between plant and soil components of subarctic landscapes is necessary. This is most relevant for the forest-tundra zone, where the variety and mosaicity of soils and vegetation is great due to its ecotonic position. The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of vegetation with the characteristics of cryogenic soils and the dynamics of the active layer in forest-tundra landscapes. Data were obtained during monitoring studies at key sites in diverse landscapes of forest-tundra in the vicinity of Labytnangi. It was revealed that the thickness of the organogenic horizons, as well as the value of the moss phytomass, determine the active-layer thickness. A close connection with relief and soils allows the use of vegetation as an indicator of the soil texture and the depth of active-layer occurrence and features.This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of the state assignment No. 6.7696.2017/8.9 (field work and data analysis of Radchenko TA, Valdayskikh VV) and (data analysis of Morozova LM), as well as by RFBR research project No. 18-04-00714 (data analysis of Nekrasova OA

Radchenko, T. A.

Valdayskikh, V. V.

Morozova, L. M.

Nekrasova, O. A.

Institutional repository of Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N.Yeltsin

Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant CommunitiesThe fourth International Scientiﬁc Conference onEcology and Geography of Plants and Plant CommunitiesVolume 2018Conference PaperThe Indicative Potential of the Forest-TundraLandscape ComponentT. A. Radchenko1, V. V. Valdayskikh1, L. M. Morozova2, and O. A. Nekrasova11Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, 620000 Ekaterinburg,Russia2Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620144Ekaterinburg, RussiaAbstractIn order to expand the possibilities of soil-cover remote monitoring and improveprognostic models of active-layer depth dynamics in connection with global climaticchanges, the veriﬁcation of correspondence between plant and soil components ofsubarctic landscapes is necessary. This is most relevant for the forest-tundra zone,where the variety and mosaicity of soils and vegetation is great due to its ecotonicposition. The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of vegetation with thecharacteristics of cryogenic soils and the dynamics of the active layer in forest-tundralandscapes. Data were obtained during monitoring studies at key sites in diverselandscapes of forest-tundra in the vicinity of Labytnangi. It was revealed that thethickness of the organogenic horizons, as well as the value of the moss phytomass,determine the active-layer thickness. A close connection with relief and soils allowsthe use of vegetation as an indicator of the soil texture and the depth of active-layeroccurrence and features.Keywords: plant communities, cryogenic soils, active layer, landscape, forest-tundra,Western Siberia1. IntroductionVegetation is a physiognomic element of the landscape. The potential for a moreaccurate assessment of hidden landscape component states, in particular soils, overvast spaces using vegetation is increasing with the development and improvementof satellite surveillance systems. As a result of numerous studies [1–6], a close rela-tionship between vegetation and the topography, soils and active layer thickness wasestablished. This allows us to use vegetation as an informative indicator of edaphicfactors, depth and the peculiarities of the active layer in permafrost distribution. ThisHow to cite this article: T. A. Radchenko, V. V. Valdayskikh, L. M. Morozova, and O. A. Nekrasova, (2018), “The Indicative Potential of the Forest-Tundra Landscape Component” in The fourth International Scientific Conference on Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communities, KnE LifeSciences, pages 160–167. DOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234Page 160Corresponding Author:T. A. Radchenkov_vald@mail.ruReceived: 12 September 2018Accepted: 15 October 2018Published: 29 October 2018Publishing services provided byKnowledge ET. A. Radchenko et al. Thisarticle is distributed under theterms of the Creative CommonsAttribution License, whichpermits unrestricted use andredistribution provided that theoriginal author and source arecredited.Selection and Peer-reviewunder the responsibility of theEcology and Geography ofPlants and Plant CommunitiesConference Committee.Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesis important for the forest-tundra zone for two reasons: the great variety and mosaicof both soils and vegetation and the zone’s particular vulnerability to climate changes.The purpose of our research is to study the relationship of vegetation with thecharacteristics of cryogenic soils and the dynamics of the seasonal layer in variousforest-tundra landscapes of Western Siberia. Research objectives: i – to identify therelationship between vegetation and soils in different landscapes of the forest-tundraecotone; ii – to verify the indicative potential of vegetation for assessing the status anddepth of the cryogenic soil active layer. Veriﬁcation of the correspondence betweenplant and soil components of forest-tundra landscapes can, on one hand, contribute tothe expansion of soil cover remote monitoring possibilities: on the other hand, it canimprove the prognostic models of the dynamics of exogenous processes occurring insubarctic landscapes, including in connection with global climate changes [7].2. Methods2.1. Studied areaThe objects of research were the vegetation and soils of the western part of the WestSiberian plain on the left bank of the Ob River in the Labytnangi area (Yamalo-NenetsAutonomous District, 66∘39′25″ N; 66∘25′05″ E). According to climatic division, the keysites are within the Atlantic–Arctic moderately cold humid area [8]. The average annualtemperature of the territory is –7.1∘С, the sum of the temperatures more than 10∘С isequal to 800∘С and the annual precipitation is near 400 mm. The studied area belongsto the forest-tundra zone. The relief is a ﬂat-sloping, hilly ridge with deep river valleys.Soil-forming rocks are sandy, clay and largely rocky. The zonal vegetation is typical forforest-tundra: a combination of dwarf birch moss-lichen (lichen-moss) and grass-mosstundras and bogs, often with individual larches and open forests of larch, spruce orspruce-larch dwarf birch. Tundra vegetation is conﬁned to the plains and gentle slopes,while open forests and thickets of dwarf birch with willows are limited to depressionsand the valleys of streams and rivers. Lichen tundra is typical to well-drained areaswith little snow in winter.2.2. Sites and plotsThree key sites each equal to 1 km2 were studied so that they can be deciphered byremote methods according to the type of vegetation (Figure 1). The key sites wereDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 161Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesselected in accordance with the three main types of vegetation (tundra, peatbog andforest) and different parent rock textures (sand (sandy loam) and clay (loam)). Thealtitude above sea level of all key areas varies slightly (from 90 to 110 m). The sitesare located on a line from the northwest to the southeast. The key site vegetationcover was mapped at a scale of 1:10 000.The elementary chorological unit is a plant unit, conjugated on the area with acharacteristic element of mesorelief. After the analysis of the geobotanical maps ofthe key sites, the most representative typical vegetation was chosen in each of them:stationary monitoring plots (SMP) were selected with exact geographical coordinates.In key site № 2, two stationary monitoring plots were established. Thus, all four SMPswere placed in typical forest-tundra landscapes, differing in terms of the location inthe relief, soil-forming rocks, soil and vegetation type and type of tundra [9]. SMP sizewas 10x10 m in tundra (without forest stand) and 20x20 m in open forests.Figure 1: Location of standard monitoring plots (SMP).2.3. VegetationThe species composition and structure of vegetation were studied in all SMPs by thetraditional method of geobotanical description during the maximum development ofthe grass and shrub layer. Plant associations were determined, the stocks and struc-ture of the aboveground phytomass were studied and the state of vegetation andsoils was characterized. The stock of the aboveground phytomass was determined bythe method of bevels from the accounting areas 25x25 cm in length in a 16–25-foldDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 162Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesrepetition in each association. The aboveground phytomass was cut at the level of theboundary between living (green) and dead (brown) mosses. During the disassemblyof bevels, fractions were isolated: cereals and sedges, forbs, shrubs, dwarf shrubs,lichens and mosses. The weighing of the fractions was carried out in an air-dry statewith an accuracy of 0.1 g. The obtained numerical data were processed statisticallyusing the program Statistics: stocks are given in the text in g/m2.2.4. Soils and active layerAt each key site, 5–8 soil sections were dug near the SMP in order to obtain thesoil morphological characteristics and sampling necessary for soil diagnostics. Thesoils were classiﬁed in accordance with the World Reference Base [10]. Temperatureand moisture sensors were installed in the soil near each SMPs. Measurements wereperformed throughout the period of ﬁeld research. Automatic sensors, produced byDecagon Devices, were installed in one wall of the vertical soil section at depths of2–10–20–50–100 cm when possible, and to the permafrost table when it was not. Thedepth of the STS in the SMP was measured with a probe with an accuracy of 1 cm onthe same SMP area of 10×10 m in steps of 1 m at the same time in mid-August. A totalof 121 measurements were made per year on each SMP.3. ResultsThe variability of soil and vegetation cover at the key sites is caused by the diversityof their position in the relief and by the rocks (Table 1).T˔˕˟˘ 1: Characteristics of key sites and stationary monitoring plots.Characteristic Key site1 2 3Position in mesorelief Flat-slopingvalley side of thebottomSlightly inclined watershed area Flat watershedareaStationary monitoringplot, №SMP1 SMP2.1 SMP2.2 SMP3Rock texture Sand Sandy-loam Silt-loam ClayVegetation Openbirch-spruce-larch-forest dwarfshrub-moss-lichenMottled-medallion tundradwarf shrub-moss-lichenHilly tundraledum-dwarfbirch-dwarfshrub-lichen andmossFlat-knob bogdwarfbirch-ledum-cloudberry-sphagnumDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 163Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant CommunitiesCharacteristic Key site1 2 3Synfolium ediﬁcators Larix sibirica,Betula tortuosa,Ledum palustre,Vacciniumuliginosum, V.vitis-idaea,Empetrum nigrum,Carex globularis,Hylocomiumsplendens,Polytrichumspp.,Cladoniagracilis, Cetrarialaevigata,Stereocaulonglareosum,CladinaBetula nana,Ledumdecumbens,Vacciniumuliginosum,Empetrumhermaphroditum,Carex arctisibirica,Cladoniarangiferina, C.arbuscula, C.gracilis,Polytrichum ssp.,Dicranum sspBetula nana,Ledum palustre,Vacciniumuliginosum, V.vitis-idaea,Empetrum nigrum,Carex tripartitaBetula nana,Ledumdecumbens, Rubuschamaemorus, V.vitis-idaea,Eriophorummedium, Carexglobularis.Phytomass stocks(excluding trees, g/m2):Shrubs 0.7 ± 0.1 51.7 ± 6.6 183.8 ± 11.04 138.0 ± 8.2Dwarf shrubs 172.2 ± 9.2 75.5 ± 3.6 106.3 ± 2.5 24.7 ± 1.3Grasses 3.7 ± 0.3 2.9 ± 0.4 22.3 ± 1.4 73.6 ± 4.4Mosses 94.1 ± 4.1 32.4 ± 1.7 238.8 ± 5.4 433.1 ± 7.7Lycens 86.2 ± 6.3 107.6 ± 4.5 164.8 ± 10.0 28.3 ± 1.8Total 356.9 ± 10.2 270.1 ± 9.8 716.0 ± 15.0 697.7 ± 14.6Soil type Albic Podzol Albic PodzolsGelicHistic TurbicCryosolReductaquicHistic CryosolSoil horizons O-E-Bhs-Bg-BCg O-E-Bhs-Br H1-H2-Bg-Br-BCg H1-H2-H3-CgOrganogenic horizon(O, H) thickness, cm4.3 ± 2.0 3.7 ± 2.4 18.7 ± 8.9 33.0 ± 7.1Active layer depth, cm(2012–2017 yy.)> 300 115–190 56–93 33–45Source: Authors’ own work.The data show that as the position in the relief changes from the valley side tothe depression and/or the soil texture changes from sandy to clay, the active layerdepth decreases. This is connected with the drainage weakening and the occurrenceDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 164Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiesof moisture stagnation in this row. The rapid runoff of moisture in well drained soilsintensiﬁes the initially higher thermal conductivity of the solid phase of sandy soilscompared to clayey soils [11], as a result of which the thermal regime of sandy, well-drained soils contrasts more than do clay soils (Figure 2(a)).Sandy soils warm up in the summer faster than clay soils: under the cryolithozoneforest-tundra conditions, this leads to a deeper active layer. Under such conditions,mainly open forests with a predominance of Larix sibirica are formed. In contrast, withpoor drainage and moisture stagnation slight thawing occurs, and plant communitiesare formed with the predominance of Betula nana, Ledum decumbens, Ledum palustre,Rubus chamaemorus and Eriophorum medium, accumulating peat horizons of consid-erable thickness in the soils. The latter, in turn, strengthens moisture stagnation andserves as a thermal insulator (Figure 2(b)), further increasing the contrast between thethermal conductivity of the studied soils. Living phytomass also serves as an effectivethermal insulator.Thus, the composition of vegetation is quite clearly determined by the conditions ofdrainage. Woody (mainly larch) communities are conﬁned to sandy soils and dissectedreliefs with a good drain base. Mottled-medallion tundra is formed on sandy soils,while less dissected relief, mottled-medallion tundra is formed on the same elementsof the relief, but on clay soils. Peat communities prefer depressions of the relief on clayrocks.Figure 2: Temperature proﬁle of the standard monitoring site soils (average values for July 2017 at 1 pm)and the relationship of active layer depth with soil organic horizon thickness. Source: Authors’ own work.4. ConclusionStable links between types of plant communities and edaphic factors have been estab-lished for the forest-tundra of the western part of the West Siberian plain. The edaphicDOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 165Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communitiescomponents of the forest-tundra are extremely diverse in the landscapes under study,which is expressed in a variety of soil types and in the depth of the active layer: thisis primarily due to the mesorelief and the texture of the soil-forming rocks. Thesefactors determine the value of the territory’s drainability, and, as a consequence, thevegetation community. In turn, vegetation through feedbacks largely determines thedepth of the active layer due to the thickness of the organogenic horizons (peat) andthe amount of phytomass, primarily mosses. For the purposes of remote permafrostmonitoring and predicting its condition, the existing landscape diversity can be sim-pliﬁed to the four most typical and easily identiﬁable vegetation types (larch openforests, mottled-medallion lichen tundra, hilly tundra dwarf shrub-moss tundra andﬂat-knob bogs) contrasting in terms of the latent edaphic components.AcknowledgmentThis work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Fed-eration within the framework of the state assignment No. 6.7696.2017/8.9 (ﬁeld workand data analysis of Radchenko TA, Valdayskikh VV) and (data analysis of MorozovaLM), as well as by RFBR research project No. 18-04-00714 (data analysis of NekrasovaOA).References[1] Wang, G., Liu, L., and Liu, G. (2010). Impacts of grassland vegetation cover on theactive-layer thermal regime, Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Permafrostand Periglacial Processes, vol. 21, no. 4. pp. 335–344.[2] Genxu, W., Guangsheng, L., Chunjie, L., et al. (2012). The variability of soilthermal and hydrological dynamics with vegetation cover in a permafrost region.Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, vol. 162–163, pp. 44–57.[3] Almeida, I., Schaefer, C., and Fernandes, R. (2014). Active layer thermal regime atdifferent vegetation covers at Lions Rump, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica.Geomorphology, vol. 225, pp. 36–46.[4] Chang, X., Jin, H., and Zhang, Y. (2015). Thermal Impacts of Boreal Forest vegetationon active layer and permafrost soils in Northern Da Xing’anling (Hinggan)mountains, Northeast China. Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, vol. 47, no. 2, pp.267–279.DOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 166Ecology and Geography of Plants and Plant Communities[5] Fisher, J. P., Estop-Aragones, C., and Thierry, A. (2016). The inﬂuence of vegetationand soil characteristics on active-layer thickness of permafrost soils in BorealForest. Global Change Biology, vol. 22, no. 9, pp. 3127–3140.[6] Anisimov, O. A. and Sherstyukov, A. B. (2016). Assessment of the natural andclimatic factor role in changes to the permafrost zone of Russia. Cryosphere of theEarth, vol. XX, no. 2, pp. 90–99.[7] Dantec-Nédélec, S., Ottlé, C., Wang, T., et al. (2017). Testing the capability ofORCHIDEE land surface model to simulate Arctic ecosystems: Sensitivity analysisand site-level model calibration. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, vol.9, no. 2, pp. 1212–1230.[8] National Atlas of Russia. Nature and Ecology. (2008). Moscow: Astrel, Roskartograﬁa.[9] Valdayskikh, V., Nekrasova, O., Jouzel, J., et al. (2013). Some characteristics of forest-tundra (West Siberia) soil groups distinguished on the basis of thermal properties.Prace Geograficzne, zeszyt, vol. 135, pp. 73–86.[10] World Reference Base for Soil Resources. (2014). Rome: Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations.[11] Shein, E. V. (2005). Course of Soil Physics. Moscow: MSU.DOI 10.18502/kls.v4i7.3234 Page 167

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The Indicative Potential of the Forest-Tundra Landscape Component

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