Bilberry and Lingonberry Cenopopulation Mosaic Structures and Soil Organic Matter Dynamics in Southern Moscow Region Pine Stands

摘要

Investigations into heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of dwarf shrub cenopopulations have proven that the dominance of bilberries (Vacciniummyrtillus L.) and lingonberries (V. vitis-idaea L.) in the groundcover is relevant to environmental factors. The moisture of soils on the strongly expressed microrelief under the same ambient light conditions acts as a limiting factor for the spatial distribution of dwarf shrubs. Bilberries usually occupy a lower and wetter microrelief surface when compared to lingonberries. In addition, melt-water flooding over a long period of 1-2 weeks can cause the death of dwarf shrubs covering the land parcels. In the areas of ecological-niche overlap, dwarf shrubs successfully codominate due to the differences in the morphological and physiological characteristics of these species. It is shown that, in single-story pine forests without any woody undergrowth in southern Moscow region, the light factor has no significant effect on the growth of dwarf shrubs. However, the second layer canopy present in the forest limits the distribution of dwarf shrubs under the spruce and linden tree canopies. Thus, it was shown that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmission factor values less than 7, in the range of 7 to 10, and more than 10 indicated the absence of dwarf shrubs on the land parcels, the presence of isolated shoots of bilberry and lingonberry populations with low vitality (less than 0.1 m height), and the combined bilberry and lingonberry ground coverage reaching 60-80, respectively. Computational experiments to analyze the conjugate variable dynamics of interaction between the plants in the herb and dwarf shrub layer and the soils with the CAMPUS-S and EFIMOD Romul_Hum model systems show the high accuracy of the model system and comparability of the results produced from the calculations using raw data.