UDC

574.91

Authors

Emelyanova Lyudmila Georgievna
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)
е-mail: biosever@yandex.ru
Goryainova Ingrid Nikolaevna
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)
е-mail: letters@biogeo.ru
Leonova Nadezhda Borisovna
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)
е-mail: nbleonova2@gmail.com

Abstract

The paper dwells on the peculiarities of plant and animal species distribution near the northern borders of their ranges in the middle taiga ecosystems in the south of the Arkhangelsk Region (Vaga and Northern Dvina interstream area). This study provides the data needed to assess and forecast the ecosystems’ biodiversity under certain environmental changes and man-made impacts. The paper describes the distribution pattern, ecological peculiarities and coenotic activity of seven species of vascular plants as well as the distribution of nine mammal species of southern origin. Nemoral plant species, growing in the north due to certain soil conditions, have a rather stable position in the communities. The study has found rather high contingency (Cole’s coefficient 0.45–0.6) of nemoral plants’ growing together. These plants are: Ajuga, Asarum, Pulmonaria, Ranunculus cassubicus, and Tilia cordata. Immense floristic richness was observed in vegetation communities having species of southern origin in their composition. The study has found that the dispersal of mammals of southern origin to the north is caused by deforestation, ploughing and new human settlements. The state of animal populations along the northern border of their habitats is less stable as their number and the scale of dispersal directly depend on human activity. Thus, anthropogenic transformation of the middle taiga landscapes in the central part of the European taiga facilitates the dispersal of certain species to the north, which should be taken into account in case of potential climate changes.

Keywords

middle taiga, northern borders of ranges, ecosystem biodiversity, middle taiga ecosystems, Arkhangelsk Region

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