Plant cover of sandy deflation scars in reindeer-grazed tundra

Katja Kuljugina

doi:10.7557/2.22.4.1671

Abstract

The upper parts of the sandy hills in the East of the Malozemelskaya Tundra are characterized by sandy deflation scars (areas 200 3000 m 2 ; depths 0 1.5 m) in lichen-dwarf shrub tundra. The kettles are most common close to reindeer herders' camps and settlements. The vegetation cover in sandy areas of the tundra zone has been studied by Andreev and Sambuk in the 1930s and by Pristyazhnyuk & Telyatnikov (1995); Khitun & Rebristaya (1997) and Magomedova & Morozova (1997). The purpose of my study was to ascertain the state of vegetation cover of such ecotopes and their response to the effect of anthropogenic factors, one of which is reindeer grazing. As part of the study we have tried to find out if there exist connections between reindeer graz¬ ing and the occurrence of kettles.

Highlights

Study area and method sometimes in the center of sandy deflation kettles, The upper parts of the sandy hills in the East of the which presented fragments of destructed tundra
Malozemelskaya Tundra are characterized by sandy The species composition and diversity of life forms deflation scars
The following sandy scars revealed the following: species diversity parameters were used: species composition, cover decreased from the first to the fourth type; total percentage, abundance of cryptogamic and vascular plant cover decreased from type 1 (86%) to type 4 plants, plant height, and features of soil

Summary

Introduction

Study area and method sometimes in the center of sandy deflation kettles, The upper parts of the sandy hills in the East of the which presented fragments of destructed tundra. Malozemelskaya Tundra are characterized by sandy The species composition and diversity of life forms deflation scars The kettles are dering moss - lichen - dwarf shrub tundra. The vegetation cover in sandy areas of maphroditum occurred on gently sloping hillocks sit¬

Results

Conclusion