The altitudinal distribution of vascular plants in the lower profiles of the mountain slopes of Biosphere Reserve 'Sayano-Shushensky' (West Sayan).

摘要

21 altitudinal profiles from Sayan-Reservoir from the bottom of slopes upwards to the peaks on the territory of Sayano-Shushensky Reserve (West Sayan, Russia) were studied in 1987-89. The plant species were aggregated into 11 altitudinal coenotic groups (ACG) according to their relationships with plant communities and zones, the uppermost and lowermost limits of their occurrence, and also their altitude of maximum abundance. Five ACGs from the lower profiles were examined: plants which have disappeared due to building a reservoir (22 species); plants inhabiting areas of periodic flooding (36 species); plants of the valleys in the steppe and forest belts (55 species); plants of the mountain steppes (223 species); and plants of the steppes, areas degraded to steppes and pine [Pinus sp.] forests (110 species). In total, these five groups comprised 446 species which is more than in all profiles of the subarctic mountains. The third group is characteristically connected with the ancient Mediterranean.