Primary Successions of Vegetation on the Young Moraines in the Severo-Chuiskiy Center of Glaciation (Central Altai)

Abstract

The primary successions of vegetation have been investigated in the continental conditions of the Severo-Chuiskiy center of present-day glaciation (Central Altai) from the colonization of deglaciated terrains by the first plants to the formation of simple plant groups to the primary plant communities. The observations were carried out for 15 years on the young moraines of the valley glaciers of Malyi Aktru (2200–2250 m a.s.l.) and Bolshoi–Levyi Aktru (2370–2500 m a.s.l.) in chrono-sequences from the ends of glaciers to the moraines of the mid-19th century. Three stages and four sub-stages of the primary succession of vegetation are identified. The species composition of vascular plants, mosses, and ground lichens is identified; the dominant species and the peculiarities of primary vegetation are characterized. Ideas about the course of successions and their peculiarities at different altitudes in the upper part of the forest and subchalet altitudinal zones are obtained. It has been found that, in the 150 year period, a young forest community has been formed on new moraines in the upper part of the forest altitudinal zone, and a combination of microcenoses similar to tundra communities have been formed in the alpine altitudinal zone. The primary succession of vegetation on both glacier forelands has some similarities, especially in early stages of ecosystem development (pioneer species composition and three-stage structure of successions). Strong differences appear during the late stages of succession. The primary succession of vegetation on the foreland of the Malyi Aktru glacier involves 146 species of vascular plants, 44 species of mosses, and 6 species of lichens. On the foreland of Bolshoi Levyi Aktru, 128 species of vascular plants, 26 species of mosses, and 8 ground lichens have been recorded.