Changes in a Parcel Structure of Liana-Broadleaved Forests in Primorsky Region Over 20 Years

Abstract

The study of the parcel structure dynamics of the Primorsky region’s forests is necessary to identify the natural restoration patterns of a formation unique to the region - primary coniferous-broad-leaved forests. As a result of economic activity, these forests, saturated with relic elements, were replaced by secondary ones in most of the affected area. The studies were carried out in the catchment area of the Komarovka river (Southern Primorye, Ussuri region). The article presents the results of the parcel structure study in the broad-leaved-linden hazel with liana vegetation of the herb forest type, which is representative for the region and is also the most complex as far the derivative forests formation is concerned. The classical research method was used: a detailed description and mapping on a scale of 1 : 100 of all phytocoenosis levels was performed on a permanent trial plot (PTP), followed by a pairwise maps comparison and the parcels allocation. An analysis of the phytocoenosis transformation over 20 years of restorative succession has shown that the main silvicultural and inventory characteristics of the stand have changed insignificantly. In the forest stand’s composition, an almost complete dropping out of aspen and linden has occurred, the latter being one of the main species of the local ecosystems. At the same time, the positions of the underbrush and the tree species, characteristic of primary coniferous-deciduous forests, have both strengthened. Changes in the parcel structure indicate the successful restoration of the primary forest type: two secondary complementary (small) parcels disappeared in the phytocoenosis, one more has joined the six conditionally-indigenous ones; there also was a natural enlargement of conditionally indigenous parcels and the alignment of their boundaries. The high indicator role of the grass layer was properly reflected in the study.