The Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Mountain Dark Coniferous Forests in the South of Priyenisei Siberia in the Сlimate Change

Abstract

Sustainable management of forest resources in mountainous areas requires the development of regional databases and a modern ecological and geographical basis for forecasting the near future of mountain forests. In the Priyenisei part of the Sayans, the authors carried out multidisciplinary studies on mountain profiles in various regions. Based on geoinformation systems for the three key mountain territories (Stolby, Sayano-Shushensky, Tanzybey) the series of landscape-typological maps with numerous parameters of basic climatic conditions (heat, moisture supply, degree of continentality, etc.) in each altitudinal belt were created. The conception and results of studies that have direct access to the regional forecast and forest management planning in the context of global climate changes is present. The concept of forest forecast, developed by the authors, leads to their past, modern state, the degree of damage caused by fires and cuttings, as well as to the ambiguous character of climate change in mountain landscapes. At this stage, the task includes the studying of space-temporal changes in dark coniferous ecosystems in the mountains of the Priyenisei Siberia. Materials of information systems of various scales were used from the AIS “Biom” for Siberia to regional geographic information systems of the Priyenisei Siberia. The databases include blocks of information on biodiversity, climate, stationary observations for a 60-year period, satellite images and cartographic materials of various scales, ecological characteristics of coniferous forest-forming species: Siberian pine, fir, spruce, Scotch pine, larch, and others. The methods of paleogeography, climatic ordination, information analysis, geoinformation-based mapping, and others were used. The most probable reaction of dark coniferous species, including Siberian pine, to the warming of the climate, predicted by climatic models, is shown. The measures are suggested to preserve valuable coniferous stands in the mountains and restoration of their areal.