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Contemporary Problems of Ecology

2013 year, number 1

Changes in the Vegetation Cover of Ostrovnoy Peninsula (Tauysk Bay, the Sea of Okhotsk) under the Influence of Sea Birds

O. A. MOCHALOVA, M. G. KHOREVA
Institute of Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, 685000, Magadan, Portovaya str., 18
mochalova@inbox.ru
Keywords: ornithogenic action, flora, vegetation, sea birds, North of the Okhotsk sea
Pages: 77-86

Abstract

Changes of the vegetation on Ostrovnoy peninsula with its large rookery of sea birds are described. The number of birds increased substantially since early 1990es. The most intensive effect of birds falls at the middle of 2000es, resulting in the disappearance of about ten species from the flora, while the dry grass meadow was substituted by ornithogenic reedgrass-wormwood meadow. At present the action of birds somewhat weakened, and changes in the composition of vegetation slowed down; partial recovery of thr grass cover on previously distorted regions is observed. The equilibrium in the “island” ecosystem is disturbed. Further processes that will take place in the vegetation cover are unpredictable yet and depend first of all on the dynamics of bird number.