Vegetation features of the Olkha tableland

Abstract

The vegetation of the Olkha tableland is located on the border of the Central Siberian subtaiga light-coniferous and South Siberian mountain-taiga dark-coniferous plant forms. The interpenetration of elements of these two large plant coenotypes leads to an increase in the flora-cenotic diversity and is of particular scientific interest. Currently, the entire territory of the tableland is included in the zone of active forestry use, which leads to serious disturbances and complete destruction of plant communities. Using the method of geobotanical mapping, a detailed study of the structure and dynamics of extension, an assessment of the disturbance was carried out, and the flora-cenotic diversity was revealed. Thanks to cartographic visualization, it can be seen that the distribution of plant communities in the territory is 50% subordinate to the altitudinal-belt subordinates. Microclimatic conditions play a great role in the change in the structure of indigenous vegetation, reflecting the features of the topography. Potentially, the territory is characterized by a predominance of dark coniferous and mixed dark coniferous-light coniferous forest communities. Approximately 15% of the territory is occupied by bog plant communities. There are also stone runs, stony placers, and rocky outliers uncovered by closed plant communities. Almost 76% of the vegetation of the plateau is represented by secondary (disturbed) small-leaved and coniferous-small-leaved forests, which are the result of active forest industrial use.