The map of ecological functions of the vegetation cover of Russia

Abstract

This map was compiled for the Ecological-Geographic Atlas of Russia. The Atlas has to show the ecological potential of natural landscapes which can be revealed by the series of factors determining the vital conditions of population. The map is the first attempt to analyse functional difference of the vegetation throughout such vast region as Russia. It is based on the analysis of both natural factors determining the vegetation distribution and the regulating influence of plant communities on environmental dynamics. So the first stage of creating this map is classification of vegetation in connection to environmental factors (edaphic, hydrologiс, cryologic, etc.). The second stage is evaluation of functional significance of vegetation categories. The main sources of this map are some regional maps of ecological functions of the vegetation and all available universal vegetation and landscape maps of Russia. Only environmental (landscape protective) but not resource and social functions are shown on this map because of its small scale and ecological purposes. These functions of vegetation can be subdivided into three groups: forming (oxygen–, sod–, chernozem–, peat-forming); protective (anti-erosion, anti-deflation, anti-denudation, anti-avalanche); stabilizing (runoff-regulation, water– and snow-accumulation, soil ice-stabilization, soil thermal-regulation, etc.). The legend of the map contains information about actual vegetation as well as its ecological functions peculiar to every unit shown on the map. All typological subdivisions of the vegetation are combined on the base of similar functions. Plant communities are grouped in the legend in zonal order. Mountain types have their own functions, that is why they are shown as independent units. Such maps reveal protective potential of the vegetation. They are important for prognosis of environmental dynamics under anthropogenic press and for protection and restoration of natural vegetation. In future the compiling of such type of maps in larger scale should supplement its content with resourceal and social functions of the vegetation. The most important of the latter are recreation and sanitary ones, which are mainly realized by biotic part of landscape.