The Litters and the Living Ground Cover as Informational Characteristics of Biogeocenoses for Moscow Oblast Small-Leaved Forests

Abstract

The ecological and coenotic structure of the living ground cover and the structural and functional features of forest litter for three types of forests were studied: hairy-sedge birch forest, birch-aspen hairy-sedge, soddy-pike birch forest, forming a sequential row as hydromorphism increases within the slope, gradually to the center of the drive-dividing depression. The ecological characteristic of the living ground cover is based on the grouping of ecological-coenotic formations according to A.A. Nitsenko and ecological scales L.G. Ramensky and H. Ellenberg. Increasing hydromorphism is accompanied by an increase in ecological and cenotic diversity. The total trophicity score also increases under conditions of increased hydromorphism – in the soddy pike birch forest – in combination with low Ellenberg acidity index. Conversely, the maximum scores for these indicators, with high variation, belong to the birch-aspen forest, which occupies intermediate positions in the series of increasing hydromorphism. It was established that the studied stands are characterized by destructive and fermentative litters. As hydromorphism increases, the litter deposit increases from 400 to 1400 g/m2 with a simultaneous increase of detritus part in L subhorizon. About 60% of total organic matter deposit concentrated the litter of small-leaved plantations is accounted by easily decomposing fractions. With a regular increasing ash content in the system of subhorizons L–F, the maximum ash content is obtained for detritus fraction of L subhorizon. With a regular increase in the ash content in the system of subhorizons L–F, the maximum ash content is characteristic of the detritus fraction of the subhorizon L. The parameters of the ecological characteristics underlying the method of principal components showed a good grouping of the studied phytocenoses according to the degree of moisture, especially when using the general properties of litter (stocks, thickness, detritus content). The expediency of using the properties of litter to establish the similarities and differences of the studied phytocenoses as characteristics that integrally reflect the characteristics of moisture is revealed. The parameters of the living ground cover in conjunction with a number of structural and functional features of forest litter are adequate indicators of the degree of hydromorphism.