Western Caucasus Research Articles

Results of the vir collecting mission in Adygea and Kuban in september 2018

Twenty-six habitats in the Western Caucasus have been examined. Fifty-nine samples of seeds of cultivated plants, their wild relatives, and 77 herbarium specimens have been collected. Some of the samples are landraces of Phaseolus beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), spring garlic (Allium sativum L.), shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.), hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. longum (DC.) Sendtn.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), etc. Another part of the samples are cultivated plants forms of folk breeding, e.g., cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), etc. Samples of such wild relatives of cultivated plants as Lactuca serriola L., Prunus spinosa L., Cicerbita racemosa (Willd.) Beauverd, Asclepias syriaca L., Lathyrus sylvestris L., etc. were included in the VIR collections.

Variability in macrozoobenthic assemblages along a gradient of environmental conditions in the stream water of karst caves (Lower Shakuranskaya Cave, western Caucasus)

The fauna of the stream water in the Lower Shakuranskaya Cave in central Abkhazia, western Caucasus, was studied. This cave has a large inlet and an extended entrance ecotone area of approximately 60 m, which makes it a convenient area for studying macrozoobenthic assemblages across a gradient of environmental factors. The cave has 13 species of stygobionts, 10 species of stygophiles and 18 species of stygoxenes. The number of species and the abundance and biomass of stygobionts per station were the highest near the boundary of the photic zone, at a distance of 50–60 m from the entrance to the cave, and gradually decreased toward both the remote parts of the cavity and the cave exit. The most abundant stygobionts were gastropod mollusks of the Hydrobiidae family, and Xiphocaridinella shrimp comprised the main part of the biomass. It has been shown that the main environmental factors determining the distribution of macrozoobenthos are luminosity and distance from the entrance to a cave. According to the differences in their reactions to these environmental factors, several groups of species were identified. In addition, three main assemblages of macrozoobenthic species were described: (1) an assemblage of epigean species near the cave entrance area; (2) stygobionts in remote parts of the cave outside the photic zone; and (3) a mixed assemblage in the cave ecotone, where a faint light penetrates. The specific details related to the faunal structure in the ecotone of the cave are discussed, as well as active and passive methods by which stygoxenes invade underground cavities.

Проходите в Кавказ и местоположението на българите

The Bulgarians appeared in the Caucasus in the 1st century AD or under the first rulers of the Arsacid dynasty in Armenia. Armenian chroniclers report that the “country of the Bulgarians” was situated in the gorges of the Caucasus. Some Syrian chroniclers note that the Bulgarians lived behind the Caspian Gates (e.g. Pseudo-Zacharias Rhetor), while others (e.g. Michael the Syrian) claim that the Bulgarians/Puguri lived behind the Torah Gates, which got its name from the city of Caspia, nowadays the town of Kaspi in Georgia. Thus, it becomes clear that the Torah Gates of Michael the Syrian and the Caspian Gates of Pseudo-Zacharias are one and the same thing – the Darial Gorge. Due to superficial knowledge of the Caucasus’s historical geography, the Torah Gates are identified with the Chor/Tsor or Derbent Pass in historiography. The Chor Pass cannot be identified with Derbent, but with the Alazani Valley or Ptolemy’s Albanian Gates. The Ashkharatsuits (or “Ancient Armenian geography”) also reports that the Bulgarians lived in the Western Caucasus, or in the territories of modern Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia.

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among citrus germplasm in the Western Caucasus assessed with SSR and organelle DNA markers

Characterization of genetic diversity in germplasm collections is fundamental for an efficient management and utilization. The citrus germplasm in the Western Caucasus represent one of the most northerly citrus collections. The collection contains numerous cultivars specifically selected for frost-tolerance, which are valuable as genetic resources for citrus breeding programs worldwide. Currently, the field citrus collection consists of more than 200 accessions, but their taxonomic assignment, genetic structure and diversity has not been clarified.In our study, 130 different citrus accessions including 24 species or interspecific hybrids maintained and bred at the Federal Research Centre the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC SSC RAS) were genetically investigated using 13 biparental (ncSSR) and 13 uniparental (orgDNA) markers. After STRUCTURE analysis, the single accessions were allocated to eight genetic clusters and their relationships were elucidated. This phylogenetic relationship was also confirmed by principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and by dissimilarity analysis using DARwin. We identified twenty accessions as misclassified and reassigned them to the correct species. For the remaining 110 accessions the taxonomical assignment could be confirmed. A high genetic diversity was observed on basis of the nuclear ncSSR markers, while the detection of 19 different haplotypes allowed the distinct differentiation of the accessions within our collection. Our study showed that the combination of ncSSR and orgDNA was an efficient tool to estimate the genetic diversity, genetic structure and phylogeny in the FRC SSC RAS citrus germplasm collection. The results obtained are valuable for future management of the collection and the usage of individual accessions as genetic resource for citrus cultivar and rootstock breeding, especially in colder regions.

Genetic Diversity in Diospyros Germplasm in the Western Caucasus Based on SSR and ISSR Polymorphism.

Simple SummaryPersimmon is an edible fruit consisting of several species in the genus Diospyros. The most widely cultivated and most commercially important species is the Oriental persimmon, Diospyros kaki. However, the inter- and intra-specific genetic diversity of the genus Diospyros remains largely unclear and is of great interest both for conservation and breeding purposes. This study describes the genetic diversity and genetic admixture of Diospyros germplasm in the Western Caucasus. The information can be used to support conservation measures and the breeding of persimmon.Persimmon germplasm in the Western Caucasus represent one of the most northerly collections. In our study, 51 commercial cultivars of D. kaki, 3 accessions of D. virginiana and 57 D. lotus accessions from six geographically distant populations were investigated using 19 microsatellite and 10 inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. After STRUCTURE analysis, the single accessions of Diospyros were allocated to three genetic clusters. Genetic admixtures in the important genotypes of D. kaki were revealed, whereas D. lotus accessions showed no admixture with other genetic clusters. The correspondence of genetic data and phenotypical traits was estimated in the D. kaki collection. The most frost tolerant genotypes of the collection, such as “Mountain Rogers”, “Nikitskaya Bordovaya”, “Rossiyanka”, “MVG Omarova”, “Meader”, “Costata”, “BBG”, and “Jiro”, showed a high percentage of genetic admixtures and were grouped close to D. virginiana. Some of these genotypes are known to be interspecific hybrids with D. virginiana. A low level of genetic diversity between the distant D. lotus populations was revealed and it can be speculated that D. lotus was introduced to the Western Caucasus from a single germplasm source. These results are an important basis for the implementation of conservation measures, developing breeding strategies, and improving breeding efficiency.

A Quantitative Assessment of Mudflow Intensification Factors on the Aibga Ridge Slope (Western Caucasus) over 2006–2019

A Quantitative Assessment of Mudflow Intensification Factors on the Aibga Ridge Slope (Western Caucasus) over 2006–2019

The taxonomic status of the vipers of the Pelias (kaznakovi) complex in the middle-flow of the Kura River basin in the East Transcaucasia

Recently, the Caucasian viper was found in a number of localities in South Ossetia (Tuniyev et al. 2017a,b; Tuniyev et al. 2019) and in the lower gate of the Borzhom Gorge of Eastern Georgia. Animals from the new localities are compared to Pelias kaznakovi from the Western Caucasus – northeastern Turkey and P. dinniki. The canonical discriminate analysis (CDA) showed that the snakes from the left-bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River in East Georgia and South Ossetia differ significantly from Pelias kaznakovi from Krasnodar Territory and Abkhazia in the mean values of several plastic and meristic characters. Thus, there is discrimination of the groups allocated according to geographic location and gender. Cluster analysis based on meristic characters of pholidosis showed the distance between P. dinniki and the remaining “kaznakovi” complex forms. Based on the results of the analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, the snakes from the left-bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River form a separate cluster, not sister to Pelias kaznakovi. The results obtained on morphology, genetics and ecology of the studied vipers suggest the taxonomic validity of the vipers from the left bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River in Eastern Georgia and South Ossetia. The species is named after Boris Tuniyev, who made a significant contribution to the study of the Caucasian herpetofauna and taxonomy of the shield-head viper snakes. Among the representatives of the “kaznakovi” complex, males of the new species are characterized by the minimal values of body length, pileus length, head width, number of ventral and subcaudal shields, as well as the shields around the eyes; differences are also noted in the structure of the hemipenis; the females have the minimum values of body length, pileus length, head width, number of shields around the eyes and loreals, fewer wings of zigzag. All known finds are located in the left bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River from the Borzhom Gorge (east slope of Meskheti Ridge) in Georgia to the mid-altitude mountain districts of South Ossetia (east foothills of Likhsky Ridge and south spurs of Central Caucasus). Biotopes of the new species are character- ized by more xero-mesophilic traits and a moderately warm mezo-climate than the typical mesophilic biotopes of North-Colchian (Krasnodar Territory – Abkhazia) and, especially, Adzharo-Lazistanian (Georgia – Turkey) P. kaznakovi living in the humid subtropical climate.

Microbiota of Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats of the Dzou Cave

Microbiota of the deep caves has been poorly explored. The most relevant issues of the caves biodiversity are the sources of the microorganisms’ propagules and characteristics of autochthonous microbiota. The investigation presents the assessment of microbiota biodiversity from the Dzou cave (Western Caucasus). The aim of the study was to identify the species composition of micromycetes and phototrophs of the cave and to assess the sanitary-indicative microbiota in different habitats depending on the anthropogenic load. Microscopic and cultural methods were used to identify the microbiota from the entrance zone of the cave, as well as from aquatic and terrestrial habitats of the unlit deepest parts of the cave. The analysis of the phototrophic communities composition developed in the entrance area of the cave was carried out, 22 species were identified, among which cyanobacteria prevailed. The biodiversity of micromycetes was determined: 48 species were identified in the entrance zone, 60 species – in the dark zone of the cave. Comparison of the species composition of the dark and illuminated zones of the cave showed that in addition to species Humicola grisea, Hemicarpenteles ornatus and Alternaria sp., all species of entrance area are found in the unlit part of the cave. Representatives of genus Penicillium and Aspergillus were dominants. Revealed increase of the micromycetes and bacteria number was driving by increase in the level of anthropogenic load, especially in places of tourist camps. It was noted that the propagules of phototrophs are present in the cave substrates even at great depth, excluding some water samples, which may indicate the periodic drift of propagules or anthropogenic factor. The largest number of micromycetes species was detected in the clay deposits and rock samples. The least number of species was isolated from the water streams of the cave. A large number of micromycetes propagules was found in substrates near tourist camps, but their biodiversity was lower than in cave soils.

Comparative Evaluation of the Stability of the Brown Forest Soils of Crimea and the Caucasus to Pollution with Heavy Metals

This article assesses the resistance of brown forest soils of the Republic of Crimea, the Western and Central Caucasus to pollution by lead, chromium, nickel, and copper, and develops regional maximum permissible concentrations of these heavy metals. Soil contamination was modeled under laboratory conditions. Heavy metals were added in the form of oxides. Soil stability assessment was carried out by biological indicators. The brown forest soil of the Republic of Crimea proved to be the most resistant to pollution. The higher stability of the brown forest soils of the Western Caucasus relative to similar soils of the Central Caucasus, apparently, is determined by the higher content of organic matter in them, despite their lower acidity. Heavy metals formed the following series in terms of ecotoxicity for brown forest soils: Cr> Cu ≥ Ni ≥ Pb. The values of regional maximum permissible concentrations of lead, chromium, nickel and copper in the brown forest soils of the Crimea, Central and Western Caucasus are proposed.

Assessment differentiation degree cryptic species of the genus Apodemus in the Northern Caucasus based on non-metric cranial characters

A phenetic analysis of non-metric cranial traits of two genetically identified cryptic species of the genus Apodemus in different ecological conditions of the North Caucasus was carried out. The maximum distance obtained between cryptic species did not exceed the level of subspecies differences. The phenetic distance between A. uralensis and A. flavicollis, which inhabit symbiotopically and sympatrically in the Western Caucasus, is almost 2 times lower. The smaller value of phenetic differences is probably related to the habitat of both species in similar land-scapebiotopic and climatic conditions, which contributes to the development of phenotypic similarity. In general, the obtained results indicate weak morphological differentiation of the studied species according to the studied phenetic characters (cranial foramen), although according to the results of molecular genetic analysis of the cyt b gene site, the genetic distance between the studied taxa is 10% and corresponds to the level of interspecific differences. Based on the above, reliable diagnosis of the studied species in the Caucasus is possible only by molecular genetic methods.

Impact of Solidago canadensis L. on Species Diversity of Plant Communities at Different Spatial Scale

It is known that invasive dominants can significantly limit the species diversity of plant communities in microplots. However, it remains unclear whether they are capable of influencing the species diversity of large areas of vegetation. We considered this issue by the example of six areas of plant communities dominated by Solidago сanadensis located in habitats of different types (Belaya River valley, Western Caucasus, 190–210 m above sea level). Within each of them, biomass samples were taken from 25 plots of 0.25 m2, which were then disassembled by species and weighed. The results of the data analysis showed that (1) S. сanadensis significantly reduces the number of accompanying species in microplots of plant communities; however, the process of displacement of these species is predominantly nonselective (random); (2) areas of communities of different sizes with a high and low degree of dominance of S. сanadensis, containing a similar total stock of biomass of accompanying species, include, on average, a similar number of such species; and (3) the species similarity of plant communities located in habitats of different types does not depend on the degree of dominance of S. сanadensis in them. It was concluded that the size of the species pools of cenoses with high and low degrees of dominance of S. сanadensis is approximately the same. Accordingly, an increase in the participation of this species in communities can directly threaten other species only if the area of these communities is relatively small.

ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРОТИВОЛАВИННЫХ МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ НА ГОРНОЛЫЖНОМ КУРОРТЕ «КРАСНАЯ ПОЛЯНА»

For the first time, a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of anti-avalanche measures was carried out for the territory of the «Krasnaya Polyana» ski resort, located in the Western Caucasus on the Aibga ridge. The following materials were used for this work: the results of field survey in 2019, which made it possible to map the resort's infrastructure exposed to possible snow avalanches and protected by existing preventive (anti-avalanche) measures, experience of similar studies from other regions as well as identification of the avalanche release zones by means of digital elevation model and analysis of remote sensing data, archive data on the snow avalanches regime at the site, and numerical modeling of the snow avalanches with different starting conditions. Modeling of the avalanches was performed in the RAMMS program basing on three scenarios: 1) taking account of the successful operation of existing anti-avalanche measures; 2) with regard for the failures in the work of existing anti-avalanche measures that were recorded earlier during the operation of the resort; 3) without considering any anti-avalanche measures, which corresponded to the conditions at the stage of the territorial planning of the resort. Differences in the impact of simulated avalanches on the resort infrastructure were interpreted as «high», «medium» and «low» effectiveness of existing antiavalanche measures. It was found that the dynamical characteristics of the local avalanches (run-out distance, volume, velocity, and pressure) had different importance for different types of the infrastructure with regard to the effectiveness of anti-avalanche measures. Under existing conditions of the relief, climate and vegetation of the investigated territory the artificial triggering (at the ski resort it is mainly made by the Gazex systems) is the most efficient. Snow-retaining structures often do not perform their functions, while dams and avalanche cutters can be successful only in combination with the properly functioning artificial triggering. It was found that there are areas where the run-out distance of artificially controlled avalanches is smaller than that of possible natural avalanches, and these areas can still be dangerous for the infrastructure of the resort due to the high values of the avalanche speed and pressure.

ОЦЕНКА ПАВОДКОВОЙ ОПАСНОСТИ ЗАПАДНОГО КАВКАЗА

ОЦЕНКА ПАВОДКОВОЙ ОПАСНОСТИ ЗАПАДНОГО КАВКАЗА

Features of the formation of click beetle complexes in perennial plantings of the Western Caucasus

The complexes of click beetles in the perennial plantations of the Western Caucasus are formed at the expense of species from the surrounding (adjacent) biotopes. In the forest zone, the complexes are formed by their similarity to meadow biotopes (biocenoses) with inclusions of dominant species from meadow biotopes of the foothill lane. Agriotes tauricus Heyd., and Drasterius bimaculatus (Rossi) are common species in all lanes and zones of the studied region. Species Agriotes gurgistanus (Fald.), Melanotus fusciceps (Gyll.), Athous Circassiensis Reitt., Agriotes sputator (L.) are most often dominant of elateridocoplex.

Impact of dominants on the species richness and compositional dissimilarity of high mountain plant communities of the Western Caucasus (Caucasian State Nature Reserve, Russia)

Impact of dominants on the species richness and compositional dissimilarity of high mountain plant communities of the Western Caucasus (Caucasian State Nature Reserve, Russia)

Communities of broadleaved woodlands of the lower part of the forest belt of the Belaya river basin (North-Western Caucasus)

The study of phytocoenotic diversity of oak and oak-hornbeam forests of the lower part of the forest belt in the Belaya river basin (Western Caucasus) was performed using the Braun-Blanquet approach. Five floristically different groups of releves were identified based on quantitative classification (Ward's method, Jaccard Distance Measure). An association rank was established for each group. According to the results of comparative syntaxonomic analysis, three associations of moderately masic oak and oak-hornbeam forests - Geranio sanguinei-Quercetum petraeae ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Pinus sylvestris, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Rhododendron luteum, Geranium sanguineum, Vaccinium arctostaphylos), Inulo salicinae-Quercetum petraeae ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Brachypodium pinnatum, Inula salicina, Dorycnium graecum, Laser trilobum, Trifolium medium, Viola alba, Stachys officinalis, Pyrethrum poteriifolium, Phleum phleoides, Teucrium chamaedrys, Genista patula) and Acero tatarici-Carpinetum betuli ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Phalacroloma annuum, Thalictrum minus, Torilis japonica, Prunus divaricata, Physalis alkekengi, Lamium maculatum, Acer tataricum) were included in the alliance Crataego-Carpinion Passarge 1981, order Lathyro-Carpinetalia Passarge 1981, class Carpino-Fagetea Jakucs et Passarge 1968. The correct syntaxonomic position of two associations of mesic hornbeam and oak-hornbeam forests - Dryopterido filicis-maris-Carpinetum betuli ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Dryopteris filix-mas, Circaea lutetiana, Aegopodium podagraria, Paris incompleta, Abies nordmanniana, Impatiens noli-tangere, Festuca gigantean, Symphytum grandiflorum, Dipsacus pilosus, Aconitum orientale, Asperula caucasica, Moehringia trinervia, Polygonatum orientale) and Vincetoxico scandentis-Carpinetum betuli ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Viola hirta, Vincetoxicum scandens, Ligustrum vulgare, Lathyrus vernus, Polygonatum multiflorum, Rubus caucasicus, Euphorbia squamosa) has not been determined, however their relations to beech and beech-hornbeam forests of the order Rhododendro-Fagetalia orientalis Passarge 1981 were noted. The described associations of oak-hornbeam forests correspond to the regional ecological series of communities along the moisture gradient.

X «АНФИМОВСКИЕ ЧТЕНИЯ» ПО АРХЕОЛОГИИ ЗАПАДНОГО КАВКАЗА : ЗАПАДНЫЙ КАВКАЗ В КОНТЕКСТЕ ЕВРАЗИЙСКИХ ДРЕВНОСТЕЙ (Г. АНАПА, 23–25 ОКТЯБРЯ 2020 Г.)

X «АНФИМОВСКИЕ ЧТЕНИЯ» ПО АРХЕОЛОГИИ ЗАПАДНОГО КАВКАЗА : ЗАПАДНЫЙ КАВКАЗ В КОНТЕКСТЕ ЕВРАЗИЙСКИХ ДРЕВНОСТЕЙ (Г. АНАПА, 23–25 ОКТЯБРЯ 2020 Г.)

Динамика изменения активности ферментов в почвах Адыгеи с разной степенью нарушения после сведения леса

Regularities of ten-year changes in the biological properties of soils at several clearings in the mid-mountainous part of the Western Caucasus after de-forestation have been revealed. The soil cover of the territory is represented by Rendzic Leptosols, which have a higher humus content and biological activity than zonal Dystric Cambisols. As a result of felling and related work, the area of felling is differentiated according to the degree of disturbance of the soil and vegetation cover. Over time, the soil cover differs from the forest soils more and more as a result of multidirectional processes. Areas with severe damage to the soil are destroyed as a result of erosion, especially in conditions of dissected relief. In the early years, the peripheral areas are actively overgrown with tall-grass meadow vegetation, which leads to the activation of sod and humus-accumulative processes. The activity of soil enzymes (catalase, urease, phosphatase, dehydrogenase) varies significantly in different areas of felling sites. Variation in the humus content and catalase activity increases significantly after 5 years of forest clearing. The hydro-lases activity and organic matter content in the disturbed soils of felling are-as decrease several times, while on the outskirts of clearings in slightly disturbed soils, humus accumulation and enzyme activity increases as a result of the edging effect.

The Holocene paleoenvironmental history of Western Caucasus (Russia) reconstructed by multi-proxy analysis of the continuous sediment sequence from Lake Khuko

This paper presents new multi-proxy records of the Holocene environmental and climatic changes in the Western Caucasus revealed from a continuous sediment sequence from mountainous Lake Khuko (Caucasus State Natural Biospheric Reserve, 1744 m a.s.l.). Palaeoecological analyses of a sediment core for grain size, magnetic susceptibility, loss on ignition, and pollen allowed us to determine five principal climatic phases with several subphases since 10.5 ka BP. The age model is based on seven accelerator mass spectrometry 14C dates, supplemented by 210Pb data for the uppermost part of the sediment core. Warm periods (10.5–6.7, 6.7–5.5, 3.5–2.4, 0.8–0.5 ka BP) were characterized by high biological productivity in the lake as indicated by high organic matter content and expansion of forests, typical of modern low and middle mountain zones, as indicated by the increase in abundance of Quercus, Ulmus, Corylus, and Tilia in the pollen assemblages. Cold periods (5.5–3.5, 2.4–0.8, and 0.5 ka BP–present) are marked by a consistent decrease in organic matter content in lake deposits and possibly higher intensity of the catchment erosion. The changes in pollen assemblages (for instance peaks of Abies, Picea, and Pinus) suggested a potential elevational decline in the boundaries of vegetation belts and expansion of high-altitude woodlands. Abrupt changes in the lake ecosystem were identified between 4.2 and 3.5 ka cal BP marked by a short-term variation in sediment regime shown by variation in organic matter content, magnetic susceptibility values, and sediment grain size. This was probably caused by climatic fluctuations in the Western Caucasus region as a result of complex shifts in the ocean-atmosphere system during the 4.2 ka event. Overall, the first Holocene multi-proxy continuous lake sediment record provides new insights into the climate history in the Western Caucasus.

Семенное возобновление самшита колхидского (Buxus colchica Pojark.) в условиях эпифитотии самшитников

In response to expansion of Cydalima perspectalis Walker, 1859, mass scale drying of Buxus colchica Pojark. resulted in succession of forest communities of the Western Caucasus in 2014–2017. Changes in illumination of the forest low storeys were conducive to intensive growth of such herbaceous plants as Symphytum grandiflorum DC., Asarum intermedium (C. A. Mey. ex Ledeb.) Grossh., Festuca drymeja Mert. & W.D.J. Koch, Allium ursinum L., etc. and Ruscus colchicus Yeo, Geranium robertianum L., Rubus anatolicus Focke, Hedera colchica (K. Koch) K. Koch in the undergrowth. The ground vegetation with total projective cover up to 100 % was formed. Under current conditions the total number of B. colchica seedlings 2–15 cm high is only 10–320 pcs/ha on the southern macroslope and 5–87 pcs/ha on the northern macroslope. It is hundreds and thousands of times less as it was before boxwood forests extinction. The research purpose was to determine the factors effecting seed regeneration of B. colchica in the Western Caucasus under the conditions of succession caused by C. perspectalis expansion and further epiphytotics of boxwood forests. We carried out the studies on the southern and northern macroslopes of the Western Caucasus in the basins of the Khosta, Kurdzhips, and Tsitsa rivers in 2018–2019. The number of B. colchica seedlings was determined by their complete enumeration within 66 sampling plots; the area of each plot comprised 400 m2. When revealing the factors which effect seed regeneration of B. colchica, we analyzed 17 landscape and phytocenotic parameters: altitude above sea level; exposure and slope inclination; crown density of upper storey; parameters of undergrowth, main species stands, and dead boxwood; total projective cover of undergrowth and herbage. The principal factor preventing development of B. colchica seedlings is growthinhibition due to the herb-shrub storey. The total projective cover of undergrowth and herbage are the most important predictors for the number of B. colchica seedlings on the sampling plots. For the mentioned parameters we revealed the maximum regression coefficients b* at the significance level p < 0.05: –0.589 and –0.478 for the southern macroslope, and – 0.667 and –0.954 for the northern macroslope. The maximum projective cover of undergrowth in forest areas with boxwood regeneration is 50 % for both macroslopes. The maximum acceptable herbage cover is 15 % in the basin of the Khosta river, and 40 % in the basins of the Tsitsa and Kurdzhips rivers. Shading from the side of the forest upper storey suppresses growth of ground vegetation, and also prevents the development of B. colchica seedlings. Therefore the crown density, within the complex of factors, has no direct effect on the parameters of seed regeneration of B. colchica. In case of further intensive growth of the herb-shrub storey in forest phytocenoses, natural boxwood forests regeneration is highly improbable in the Western Caucasus. Artificial removal of undergrowth and herbage in forest areas will facilitate seed regeneration of the species. The research results are the basis for further monitoring of the regeneration processes of boxwood forests or their possible aboriginal change in the region.