Structure of plant communities in the early succession stages on anthropogenic sandy outcrops of the forest tundra and northern taiga of Western Siberia

Abstract

The results of a study of the taxonomic, ecological, and phytocenotic structure of plant communities formed in the early stages of overgrowth of the anthropogenic sandy outcrops within the forest-tundra zone and northern taiga forest subzone of Western Siberia are presented. In the early stages of vegetativecover restoration, there are from 2 to 11 species growing into sparse communities of the classes Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, Artemisietea vulgaris, and Koelerio-Corynephoretea. The participation of some meso-xerophytic forest-tundra, meadow-margin, and weed herbaceous plant and dwarf shrubs species, mostly with ruderal and stress-tolerant eco-phytocenotic strategies, as well as with secondary strategies—violent-ruderal and ruderal–stress-tolerant—in the secondary succession on the sandy outcrops have been shown. The primary succession begins at the bottom and slopes of the pit ditches, as well on the surface of the sand dunes, and proceeds at an accelerated scenario. Hygro-, meso- and xerophilous species, predominantly oligo-mesotrophic rhizome and densely firm-bunch grasses and shrubs of the native flora, as well as ground lichens, participate in the early stages of succession.