BULLETIN OF MOSCOW SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS

Biological series

Volume 106, Part 5

2001

CONTENTS

Rabotnov T.A. My life 3

Mirkin B.M. Rabotnov's impact to theory of phytocoenology: devalvation of paradigm 10

Zhukova L.A. Plant population science in Russia 18

Smirnova O.V., Bobrovsky M.V., Khanina L.G. Estimation and forecast of succession dynamics in forest plant communities based on population ontogenetic methods 26

Komarov A.S., Palenova MM. Simulation modeling of the interacting populations of creeping plants 35

Zaugol'nova L.B. Characteristics of forest phytocatenas on coniferous-broadleaved subzone 42

Ulanova N.G., Demidova A.N. Population biology of Calamagrostis canescens (Web.) Roth in clearcuttings of spruce forests in south taiga 51

Masfov A.A. Spatio-temporal dynamics of populations in forest plants and testing of carousel model in the Myrtillus-\ype pine forest 59

Biinkovn O.V., Onipchenko V.G. Analysis of interannual dynamics in alpine lichen heath, Teberda Reserve 66

Zakharov A.A., Abeeva M.A., Onipchenko V.G. Natural dynamics of alpine snowbed community 74

Markov M. V. On some features of metameric (modular) pauciennial plants construction and allometry of reproduction in their populations 83

Biayov L.G. Epyphytic lichens in spuce mountain forests, in Erzgebirge, Germany 91

Critique and bibliography

Gubanov I.A. Full list of Rabotnov's publications 96

ESTIMATION AND FORECAST OF SUCCESSION DYNAMICS IN FOREST PLANT COMMUNITIES BASED ON POPULATION ONTOGENET1C METHODS

O. V. Smirnova, M. V. Bobrovsky, L. G. Khanina

Summary

Original and literary data on demographic structure of tree populations in disturbed and undisturbed forests are colligated. Capabilities of ontogenetic methods for estimation and prognosis of forest successions are shown on an example of forest communities of Eastern Europe.

The brief generalized diagnoses of ontogenetic stages of trees are presented with marking of forest layer where one can find individuals in correspond ontogenetic stages. Estimation algorithm of coenopopulation status is described on a base of ontogenetic analysis of a tree population. Estimation algorithm of succession status of a plant community is described on a base of compared analysis of status of tree species populations.

Definitions of climax and succession are presented on a base of concepts of population structure of live cover of the Earth. Uneven-aged forest with developed mosaics of gaps in canopy and tree falls is considered as a final stage of succession. This forest can be defined as climax or diasporic subcliiriax in depends on number of species from regional flora which occur there.

The groups of early and late succession tree species (ESS and LSS respectively) are defined according to species capabilities to settle in disturbed areas and according to species possibilities of sustained existence in climax forest. It is shown, how one can estimate succession status of a plant community by a compared estimation of ESS and LSS populations. It is marked that there is a problem of attributing of uneven-aged forest with LSS to climax, sub-climax or succession forest. Gap and tree-fall mosaics as well as structure of soil vegetation and soil cover are needed to be considered.

Estimation of succession stage of a forest plant community can be done not only on a base of ontogenetic data on tree populations, but also on a base of ordinary data on vegetation sample plots and forest inventory. A brief description of methods for such estimations are presented. It is marked that one have to account spatial parameters of a study area for prognosis of succession dynamics of plant communities. Area and neighbourhood of plant communities in different succession stage with different floristic composition are necessary to consider.

SIMULATION MODELLING OF THE INTERACTING POPULATIONS OF CREEPING PLANTS

A.S. Komarov, M.M. Palenova

Summary

The cellular automata model of two interacting populations of creeping plants is considered. The most important peculiarity of the approach is the link between spatially explicit cellular automata and the concept of discrete description of the ontogeny of plants. It allows uniting the spatial structure of population and development of individual plants with its different role in the population's life. The rules of cellular automata, which reflect the discrete ontogenetic stages of the particular plant species with its specific properties, are defined and the example of realistic parameters for the model calibration is discussed. The rule of the interspecies competition is defined as a phytogenic field in Uranov's sense. It implies that the seedlings of two different species can occupy a free site with the probability that depends on the distance to the neighbour plants of the contrary species.

We simulated two long rhizome plants populations with different sets of probabilities representing the interspecies interaction. We found that the numbers dynamics of both species is significantly dependent on the presence or absence of the phytogenic field. At the presence of interaction the model community represents a specific spatial pattern which governs the vegetative propagation of ramets and thus influences the plant dynamics.

It was shown that the approach uniting cellular automata modelling and methode of discrete description of the ontogeny of plants can afficiently utilize data of Plant Population Biology, and by this represents a powerful tool for studying different peculiarities of the plant population dynamics.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREST PHYTOCATENAS ON CONIFEROUS-BROADLEAVED SUBZONE

L.V Zaugol'nova

Summary

Phytocatena is a chain of plant communities located along a hydrochemical flow. It is a wide spread form of ordered heterogeneity in nature and it is a functional unit of landscape. The following land units are defined: catena, ecotope, biotope. Ecotopes are defined by topographic position of area and by lytological parameteres; biotopes are defined by dominant tree species which change environmental conditions. Analysis of forest phytocatenas is based on a marking of land units and their ordination within the ecological space according to environmental factors (soil moisture and reaction). Forest vegetation of phytocatena is characterized by ecological-sociological groups (ESG). We used the following functional ESG of species: nemoral, nitrophyllous, boreal, pine-type, betular, meadow-type, swamp-type.

There are the following types of catenas by soil reaction: the full type, which occupies the whole forest ecological space (pH = 3-8,5); the neutral type (pH = 5,8-7,5); the intermediate type (pH = 4,3-7,5); the acid type (pH = 3,5-6). Every type has variants according to different values of soil moisture. Whithin any catena, ecotope has ecological space which can be overlapped by others. The overlapping speaks about ecological similarity of ecotopes. In various catenas, degree of ecological similarity of ecotopes is diverse.

Ecological space of catena was divided into several areas (ecological fields) by ranges of soil moisture and reaction. Forest vegetation of each ecological field was characterised by the ESG. Ecological-coenotic complexes (ESC) were determined in forest vegetation according to the ESG structure. Each ESC was located within any biotope. Similarity of ESC located within different biotopes was considered as a result of succession of the same initial vegetation. The associations for the nemoral-boreal ESC were compared by their ecological fields, and three base associations were defined (Rhodobryo rosei-Piceetum abietis Korotkov 1986, Aceri platanoidis-Piceetum abietis Bulokhov et Solometch 1991, Querco-Piceetum (Mat. 1952) em Sokotewski 1968).

POPULATION BIOLOGY OF CALAMAGROSTIS CANESCENS (WEB.) ROTH IN CLEARCUTTINGS OF SPRUCE FORESTS IN SOUTH TAIGA

N.G. Ulanova, A.N. Demidova

Summary

Seed and total production, regeneration by seed, age and age-slate population structure of Calamagrostis canescens, the dominant species of woodland clearcuts, were studied in Russian south taiga (Novgorod and Tver' regions). Species ontogeny had different ways in studied plant communities. The species changes prevailing life strategy during secondary succession after cutting from explerent to violent and then to patient. Population strategy is patient in mature Sphagnumtype spruce forest and explerent in Filipendula dominated meadow.

SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF POPULATIONS IN FOREST PLANTS AND TESTING OF CAROUSEL MODEL IN THE MYRTILLUS-TYPE PINE FOREST

A.A. Maslov

Summary

A new approach in vegetation science - fine-scale species turnover - is presented with a brief overview of terms and techniques. Population dynamics was studied in the Myrtillus-type pine forest on the base of 2000 small quadrats with four repetitions. The groups of species with similar types of dynamics were described. It was shown that species mobility mainly depends on growth strategy (phalanx, guerrilla species) and on community environmental heterogeneity. The most mobile species are annuals (Melampyrum pratense), and clonal guerrilla-type species - Pteridium aquilinum and Trientalis europaea. Application of a simple carousel model proved for dry grassland (van der Maarel, Sykes, 1993), in boreal forest community is limited. In heterogeneous forest communities only part of a high mobility species with broader range of habitats can move around the whole plot. Other species can move around in some of the patches.

ANALYSIS OF INTERANNUAL DYNAMICS IN ALPINE LICHEN HEATH, TEBERDA RESERVE

O.V. Blinkova, V.G. Onipchenko

Summary

Fluctuation and successional dynamics were studied in alpine lichen heath (ALH) in the Teberda Reserve, the Northwest Caucasus. Shoot numbers of each species were counted on 80 permanent plots for 19 years. Mean temporal variation coefficients were significantly bigger for generative shoot numbers than for total shoot numbers in both communities. As a whole, dominants were more stable than less abundant species in both communities. Several species of ALH showed a significant linear trend for the period of observation. Most of the species showed an increase in shoot numbers. Only Trifolium polyphyllum decreased population density. Increased abundance of meadow species may be connected with global climatic changes or with a long-term response to the ending of grazing.

NATURAL DYNAMICS OF ALPINE SNOWBED COMMUNITY

A.A. Zakharov, M.A. Abzeeva, V.G. Onipchenko

Summary

Fluctuation and successional dynamics were studied in snowbed community (SBC) in the Teberda Reserve, the Northwest Caucasus. Shoot numbers of each species were counted on 80 permanent plots for 14 years. Mean temporal variation coefficients were significantly bigger for generative shoot numbers than for total shoot numbers. Five of 20 species in SBC species had coefficients of temporal variation for total shoot number exceeded 60%. A significant positive correlation coefficient was obtained between spatial and temporal variation and for total shoot numbers in SBC. As a whole, dominants were more stable than less abundant species. Most of the species correlated positively with each other (Festuca ovina, Carum meifolium, Pedicularis nordmanniana, Luwia muftiflora, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Corydalis conorhiza, Gentiana pyrenaica, Festuca brunnescens, Phleum aipinum). Several species showed a significant linear trend for the period of observation. A positive trend (significant increase of shoot number) was found in 8 species, but Catabrosella variegata demonstrated a significant decrease in population density. Increased abundance of meadow species may be connected with global climatic changes or with a long-term response to the ending of grazing.

ON SOME FEATURES OF METAMERIC PAUCIENNIAL PLANTS CONSTRUCTION AND ALLOMETRY OF REPRODUCTION IN THEIR POPULATIONS

M. V. Markov

Summary

Some valuable aspects of intrapopulation allometry in a pauciennial plants populations are considered. Two invariant modular subunits phytomer and modul were shown to be a main basic elements of a pauciennial plant body construction. Both could be accumulated by iteration during the plant growth and could be used to distinguish between "isomodular" and "heteromodular" variants of plant architecture. Intrapopulation allometry (In-ln) can be used for estimation of a threshold plant size which is enough to start a seed production and is to be compared with a seed size as a start biomass. However a statistical procedure to estimate or predict a threshold for some species by use a constants of allometry equations must be developed or at least improved. The allometric constants were also used to compare a seed reproduction efficiency in different pauciennials. Three types of plant species were described: the most frequent type with an isometry amongst individuals of different size, more rare positive allometry and rarest negative allometry type.