FEATURES OF CONIFEROUS GROWTH IN LAVA FIELDS
N. N. Michurin, R. S. Moritz, V. A. Oskolkov, V. I. Voronin
Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
Keywords: lava fields, radial increment, dendrochronology, dendroclimatic analysis, Eastern Sayan
Abstract
Environmental conditions of lava fields (moisture accumulation in porous basalts, and complex mesorelief) promote the naturalization of spruce ( Picea A. Dietr.), which forms stable phytocenoses here and acts as an edificator of plant communities. In contrast, larch ( Larix Mill.) occurs sporadically, which is due to its attachment to well-drained soils, making it less competitive in the conditions of lava fields. Dendroclimatic analysis of tree-ring chronologies of spruce and larch confirms the key role of atmospheric precipitation in the dynamics of wood vegetation. Trees, primarily spruce, in these conditions act as an edificator, modifying initial ecological niches and promoting their more active development by moss-grass vegetation. In the unusual ecological conditions of lava fields, hydrophilic and thermophilic spruce, compared to larch, shows greater dependence of radial increment on temperature conditions than on moisture availability.
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