Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2025 number 5

Based on a comparative analysis of 711 relevés and field observations, the authors compiled a scale of dynamic states of psammophylous grass vegetation in the Southern Nechernozemye of Russia. The following were chosen as the main criteria for their selection: the size of the total projective cover in communities, the presence of renewal of tree species (Pinus sylvestris and Betula pendula) and their age stage, life forms of pioneer species colonizing the primary substrate or substrate after disturbance. In habitats of 6 types, in which successions of 6 variants are realized (A - xerophylous cereal, B - moss-lichen xerophylous, C - undershrub xerophylous, D - forb-cereal xero-mesophylous, E - forb-cereal mesophylous, F - forb fallow xerophylous), 5 stages of succession were identified, ending with the restoration of forest communities. At each of the stages, certain dynamic states of vegetation are formed in the listed habitats. The associations of the floristic classification of the vegetation are represented by different dynamic states. According to the results of the study, psammophylous grass vegetation belongs to 3 stages of succession. Coenofloras of the samples of communities at the identified stages have statistically significant differences in total projective cover, floristic saturation, abundance evenness, and habitats - by individual environmental factors. General patterns of changes in the spectra of life forms according to I. G. Serebryakov were revealed in samples of relevés at different stages of succession: species of different life forms can act as pioneer species forming communities at the initial stage of succession; during the implementation of succession from stage 1 to 3, the proportion of monocarpic annuals decreases in community samples of all variants; the total diversity of life form types increases from stage 1 to 3. Considering the high commonality of the coenofloras of psammophylous grass vegetation of different syntaxa due to the wide representation of psammophilic oligotrophic species in their communities, as they invade and take root in the communities, the differences in the coenofloras are leveled. During the implementation of succession, a convergence of dynamic states occurs, leading to a decrease in their number over time as the oligotrophic pine or birch-pine forest is restored in the studied climatically homogeneous region.