Abstract
According to the results of the study, it found that in the upper reaches of the Malka River, the most common is the group of birch forests with tallgrass vegetation cover, including Betuletum calamagrostioso-herbosum. Smaller areas occupied by group of complex herbaceous birch forests, represented by Pineto-betuletum calamagrostioso-herbosum and a group of pine forests with herbrich vegetation cover, including Pinetum calamagrostioso-herbosum. Forest stands are mainly singlestorey, medium and low-density, bonitet classes II-IV. The floristic composition of the Malka River basin forests includes 101 species from 68 genera and 38 families. Forest ecosystems of the study area are home to four species of vascular plants included in the list of protected taxa of the KabardinoBalkarian Republic: Betula raddeana Trautv, Vaccinium myrtillus L., V. vitis-idaea L., Allium victorialis L. Among protected lichen species, we found – Leptogium burnetiae C. W. Dodge, Letharia vulpina (L.) Hue, Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.), Lobarina scrobiculata (Scop.) Nyl.), Sticta sylvatica (Huds.) Ach. and Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex F. H. Wigg. The article analyzes the geographic spectrum of the forest flora of vascular plants and lichens, including 12 geographic elements, with the boreal geoelement predominating. The lichen flora dominated by boreal geoelements.
Highlights
The Malka River originates on the northern slopes of Mount Elbrus from the confluence of the Kyzylsu and Karakayasu Rivers, taking tributaries of mountain streams, rivulets
The main diversity of forests in the upper reaches of the Malka River represented by three forest types, which are included in three groups
The types of birch and pine forests differ in the species composition and dominants of the lower tiers of stands, which reflects the peculiarities of habitats
Summary
The Malka River originates on the northern slopes of Mount Elbrus from the confluence of the Kyzylsu and Karakayasu Rivers, taking tributaries of mountain streams, rivulets. The basin of the river in its upper course covers the northern part of the National Park " Prielbrusie" and adjoining territories - the reserve "Malkinskiy", vicinities of the village Khabaz. Steep nearvalley slopes are covered with forest vegetation. In contrast to the forests of the southern Prielbrusie (valley of the Baksan River), the northern forests are rather wellpreserved, which is due to an insignificant anthropogenic load in the absence, until recently, of federal road communications. In 2010, a road was built that goes to the upper river to the mineral springs, which increased the recreational impact on the surrounding ecosystems. More than a thousand unorganized tourists camp at the springs of Dzhily-Su
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