The Spatial Structure of Vegetation Cover of Abrau Peninsula (Northwestern Caucasus)

Abstract

The uniqueness of the Abrau peninsula is determined by a high level of floristic and phytocoenotic diversity and the relict nature of the vegetation cover of the shiblyak—broad-leaved type of altitudinal zonality. For this mountain territory, a complex spatial organization is reviled. In this research, a cartographic method for the evaluation of the vegetation cover of a mountain territory has been approved by identifying its spatial structure. The complex analysis of field data (geobotanical descriptions) and remote sensing data (multispectral satellite images, digital elevation model) made it possible to obtain a digital cartographic model of vegetation for the key area using maximum likelihood classification with etalons and discriminant analysis. The compiled large-scale (s. 1:50,000) inventory map of the vegetation reflects the actual vegetation cover, represented by a diversity of hemixerophytic sub-Mediterranean and mesophytic nemoral communities. The change in the basic communities in the altitudinal spectrum determines the identification of two belts. The lower seaside belt of hemixerophytic forests, sparse forests, and shrub communities is expressed at heights of 0–150 (200) m a.s.l. It is characterized by the development of pistachio-juniper (Juniperus excelsa, Pistacia mutica) forests and sparse forests, oak (Quercus pubescens) forests, as well as serial vegetation with shrub and herb-dwarf shrub petrophyte-herb communities. The belt of mesophytic broad-leaved forests is located at heights of 150 (200)–450 m a.s.l. Pine-oak (Quercus petraea, Pinus kochiana) and broad-leaved (Carpinus betulus, Tilia begoniifolia, Acer campestre) forests dominate in it. The important patterns in the spatial structure of the belt are expressed within the altitudinal belts. The structure of vegetation communities is formed under the conditions of several groups of relief forms: watershed surfaces, slopes, seismic forms, erosion forms, and marine forms. The most valuable results of the investigation are connected with reviling the gradients of phytocoenotic diversity. Along with altitudinal gradient, the position on different levels of catena has significant role in its determination. The identified spatial patterns are important for understanding the formation of Northwestern Caucasus ecosystems as a part of Mediterranean region.

Elena Suslova—Deceased.