Mongolian light coniferous forests mapping on the southern border of the boreal region

Abstract

This paper is devoted to evaluation of the spatial structure of subtaiga light coniferous forests on the southern border of the boreal region. Investigations were carried out on two key sites (on the northern macroslope of the Hangai range and its lowlands) during the Joint Russian-Mongolian Complex Biological Expedition in 2021. Geobotanical descriptions of larch and pine forest subtaiga communities were made in the course of field works. These descriptions were completed according to standard geobotanical methods. They are the basis of compiled thematic forest maps for two polygons. Forest maps were made on the basis of complete and short geobotanical descriptions, satellite images, and a digital elevation model. The analysis of relations of forests with altitude, slope steepness and exposure was made using the cartographic method. This analysis made it possible to determine the position of forests in the structure of altitudinal zonality of the region. Larch forests grow on the gentle slopes of the northern exposure of the Hangai range at altitudes of 1700-2300 m. They form complex spatial combinations with the steppes. Pine forests grow on steep slopes at the altitudes of about 1200-1700 m on the lowlands of the Hangai range. They are also grow on light exposures slopes.