Micromosaic Structure of Vegetation and Variability of the Chemical Composition of L Layer of the Litter in Dwarf Shrub–Green Moss Spruce Forests of the Northern Taiga

Abstract

A study of relationships between the micromosaic structure of vegetation and the composition of L layer of the litter of automorphous dwarf shrub–green moss spruce forests of the northern taiga has been carried out on the Kola peninsula. The analysis is performed based on the total content of secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds including lignin and tannins), carbon, as well as, nitrogen, and other nutrients in either L layer or senescent photosynthetic organs of dominating plant species forming an active litterfall fraction. The contribution of these species to the phytomass of mosaic components is considered, as is the micromosaic structure of vegetation. A trend in the growth of the content of mineral nutrients, phenols, and condensed tannins in the forest litter has been revealed in the case of an increase in their content in senescent plant organs. The content of lignin and the C/N ratio in the top litter depends less on the lignin concentration in senescent plant organs and may be determined by the conditions of the further plant litter decomposition, including microbiological activity, differences in water and light regimes, etc.