Characterization of Vegetation on the Plains of European Russia

Abstract

There are well-defined latitudinal zones on the plains of European Russia. The Tundra Zone is divided into four subzones. Communities of herbaceous perennial vascular plants dominate in the High Arctic tundra subzone. Prostrate dwarf shrubs Salix spp. and Dryas punctata take a great part in the vegetation of the Arctic tundra subzone. The Northern hypoarctic tundra is presented by hemiprostrate dwarf shrub-lichen-moss communities. The subzone of Southern hypoarctic tundra is formed by shrub communities with Betula nana and Salix spp. Mires are very important in the vegetation structure of the European Arctic. The Taiga Zone of Eurasia is mainly concentrated in Russia. Spruce forests are the zonal taiga type of European Russia. All forests in the Northern taiga subzone are characterized by sparse stand (= Bestand german), a considerable participation of birch and hypoarctic species. In the Middle Taiga Subzone, the forest canopy exhibits high density; the herb layer is well developed, with a thick cover of moss. In forests of the Southern Taiga Subzone, the diversity of the herb-dwarf shrub layer greatly increases because of the participation of nemoral species. The Subtaiga Subzone of European Russia is characterised by a combination of Piceeta composita-dominated forests, where nemoral tree species are represented. Mires play a large role in development and existence of taiga ecosystems. The Broadleaved Forests Zone of European Russia is the eastern edge of the European broadleaved forests. They are represented by Tilio-Querceta with Fraxinus excelsior and Tilia cordata with Quercus robur. The vegetation of the Forest-steppe zone is more or less mesophytic, including forests and shrub thickets, steppe meadows and meadow steppes. Mires are few. Steppes of European Russia are a part of a vast Eurasian steppe zone in which herbaceous communities of xerophytic microthermic perennial plants dominate. A specific feature of the Northern Steppe Subzone is the participation of many xeromesophytes and mesoxerophytic forbs. In the Middle Subzone, forbs are fewer and comprise more xerophilous species. The Southern Subzone is characterized not only by bunch grasses in their communities, but xerophilous dwarf semishrubs. Extreme heterogeneity is a feature of the vegetation. The Desert Zone occupies a small part of the Caspian Lowland. Caspian deserts are the western edge of the extensive Caspian-Turanian Desert area. In European Russia, only the Northern Subzone is occurs on the Caspian Lowland and Turan Plains. The communities of xerophilous and hyperxerophilous micro- and mesothermic plants of different life forms, mostly dwarf semishrubs, semishrubs and shrubs represent this desert type of vegetation.