Spatial Structure of Prunus armeniaca L. Populations in the Arid Woodlands of Mountaineous Dagestan

Abstract

The spatial structure of Prunus armeniaca L. populations was studied at three altitudinal levels in the mountainous Dagestan with respect to the slope steepness. The greatest density of apricot massifs is on the flat slopes of northern exposures and in areas adjacent to river valleys. On the southern slopes, due to their erosion and steepness in comparison with the northern slopes, both the density of apricot trees (r = –0.45) and the diversity of other tree species (r = –0.91) are decreased, which leads to the formation of monodominant apricot woodlands. With increasing density and joint growth with other tree species, the crown of apricot acquires a pyramidal shape; at a low density, it has a hemispherical shape.