Луговые фитоценозы в мониторинге состояния горных экосистем Кабардино-Балкарии (Центральный Кавказ)

Abstract

The monitoring is important for the mountain-meadow ecosystems of Central Caucasus which are subject of high recreational and agricultural loads. In 2017 geobotanical descriptions were carried out on four model sites in the upper reaches of Baksan river. On each model site the vegetation projective cover and average height ofplant are determined, and the level of plant synanthropization is estimated by the method of A. M. Abramova (2004). The quantitative participation of species in plant communities was estimated by the combined scale of J. Brown-Blanke (Mirkin et al, 1989). The reserves of green phytomass were determined. Natural processes contribute to formation of dry steppe meadows in Southern Elbrus region (Sokolov, Tembotov, 1989). Therefore, mountain-meadow ecosystems of the upper reaches of Baksan is characterized by xerophytization of vegetation. Disturbance indicators of the subalpine mountain meadow plant communities are reduction of average height of plants and phytomass reserves, increase of synanthropization level. Trample by recreation and grazing leads to soil compaction and changing of water regime in direction of reducing humidity. This causes greater xerophytization of plant communities.