Primary vegetation successions at a foreland of South-Chuya glacation center (Altai Mountains)
E. E. TIMOSHOK, E. N. TIMOSHOK
Institution of monitoring of climatic and ecological systems of SB RAS, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: foreland, primary succession, vascular plants, mosses, lichens, South-Chuya glaciation center, Altai mountains
Abstract
In cryoaridic conditions of the South Chuya glaciation center (Altai Mountains) on the foreland of the Sophiysky glacier (2410-2500 m above sea level), primary vegetation successions were studied from the settlement of the first vascular plants, leafy mosses and ground lichens and the formation of simple groups to primary plant communities in deglaciated area between the modern glacier tongue to the terminal moraine rim of the mid-19-th century. Three stages of primary vegetation succession were identified, the species composition of vascular plants, leafy mosses and ground lichens, the main participants in succession, and dominant species were fetched out, and the features of primary vegetation were characterized. Ideas were obtained about the course of primary succession in cryoaridic conditions occurring in the upper part of the mountain-steppe belt of the South Chuya Range. It has been fetched out that over 150 years, a complex of plant communities similar to high-mountain tundras was formed in these cold and dry conditions. 126 species of vascular plants, 22 species of leafy mosses, and 6 species of ground lichens participate in the primary succession on the foreland of the Sophiysky glacier.
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