Classification and ordination of north boreal light-coniferous forests of the West Siberian Plain

Abstract

A classification of northern boreal light coniferous forests in the West Siberian plain has been developed using the Braun-Blanquet approach. In the northern part of the West-Siberian plain, boreal coniferous forests occur at the northern limit of their range characterized by a cold continental climate and the prevalence of long-frozen, poorly drained soils in watersheds. All syntaxa were assigned to the class Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. in Br-Bl., Siss. & Vlieger 1939. Association Pinetum sibiricae-sylvestris Makhatkov et Ermakov 2010 has been included in the alliance Cladonio stellaris-Pinion sylvestris K.-Lund 1986, order Pinetalia sylvestris Oberd. 1957. Associations Melampyro pratense-Laricetum sibiricae ass. nova hoc loco and Ledo-Pinetum sibiricae ass. nova hoc loco have been included in the alliance Pino sibiricae-Laricion sibiricae Ermakov in Ermakov et Alsynbayev 2004 and the order Ledo palustris-Laricetalia cajanderi Ermakov in Ermakov et Alsynbayev 2004. Results of detrended correspondence analysis ordinations demonstrate a strong floristic integrity of the higher syntaxonomic units and clear syntaxonomic boundary between north boreal forests of the Vaccinio-Piceetea and swamp forests of the Oxycocco-Sphagnetea in spite of transitional floristic features in the majority of communities.