Abstract
When estimating the influence of fire on boreal forests, it must be taken into account that here fire, after climate, soil, and relief, is the most important natural exogenous factor, determining in many respects biological nutrient cycling, soil-forming processes, and forest development (reproduction, growth, composition, dynamics, expansion and destruction). Partial or full destruction of forests by fire may deeply change the entire forest environment and initiate a series of inter-connected effects of far reaching significance. Because of its scale and depth of influence on forest ecosystem (biogeocoenoses) dynamics and their ecological balance, especially in the taiga zone, the effects of fire can considerably surpass technogenic effects. Depending on the type and severity of the fire, vegetation and relief peculiarities, and presence or absence of permafrost and of permafrost type, the influence of fires on forest ecosystem development is highly variable. In some cases, irreversible processes may take place: soil erosion and degradation; formation of stony deposits or thermo-karst events. In others, long-term, negative changes during which degressive successions occur, are accompanied by the strong development or disappearance of organic layers and bogs. “Positive” ecological transformations of the forest environment may occur, determining cyclic initiation of forest forming processes and stimulating the formation of highly productive crops. Some ecosystems, however, do not experience any prominent changes in their development.
Published Version
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