Influence of topography on some vegetation cover properties

Abstract

We study the influence of nine local, non-local and combined quantitative topographic characteristics on vegetation cover, altitude and density. The objects under study are four areas of the Rudny Altai. Differentiation of plant properties is shown to depend on relief parameters which control migration and accumulation of water in landscape by gravity. These are landsurface curvatures, catchment area, topographic and stream power indexes. In some cases the phytocoenosis characteristics can have higher correlation with non-local and combined topographic variables than with local ones. This derives from the fact that non-local and combined relief attributes take into account a relative location of an area in a landscape, so they can better determine topographic prerequisites of substance motion. We demonstrate the advisability of the use of digital models and maps of indicated topographic characteristics in plant investigations.