Трансформаційні процеси в альпійських фітоценозах Українських Карпат за умов заповідання та кліматичних змін

Abstract

Typycal alpine phytocoenoses of Ukrainian Carpathians with dominant species Festuca supina, Carex curvula, Juncus trifidus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Rhododendron myrtifolium, Sesleria coerulens and open chionophilous communities were investigated. As a result of comparative studies during 1982–2021, among alpine phytocoenoses, the smallest changes in the structure, abundance and coenose-forming positions of species were found in communities dominated by Juncus trifidus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Rhododendron myrtifolium and Sesleria coerulans, in particular in the Juncetum cetrario-myrtillosum, Uliginetum cetrariosum, Rhodoretum calamagrostiosum and Seslerietum cariceto-festucosum communities. During the same period in communities with dominant Festuca supina and Carex curvula, the position of the dominants decreased significantly. The Festuca supina-communities undergo desintegration and replacement by other phytocoenoses with dominance Juniperus alpinа, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, V. uliginosum and Calamagrostis villosum. Over the last decade, radical changes have taken place in Carex curvula-communities. In contrast to the decisive influence of postpastoral demutation processes on the degradation of Festuca supina-communities, changes in the phytocoenoses of Carex curvula are prima­rily climatogenically caused. It is established that in the alpine zone Festuca supina-communities do not belong to the indigenous primary phytocoenoses, but are secondary pastorally conditioned derivative succession stages of primary communities of other associations. Rapid positive dynamics over the last ten years of such mesochionophilous species as Veronica alpina, Gnaphalium supinum, Soldanella hungarica, Luzula spadicea and, at the same time, negative changes in populations of obligate chionophiles Cerastium cerastoides and Saxifraga carpatica indicate transformation processes within the communities connected to the areas under long and deep snow cover. These processes indicate rapid successional changes under the influence of increa­sing vegetation period due to the reduction of the duration of snow cover in the territory of chionophilous phytocoenoses, which is due to modern climate changes, primarily warming.