TO THE ISSUE OF INDICATORS OF BIOLOGICALLY VALUABLE FORESTS IN PROTECTED AREAS

Abstract

Background. Work on biomonitoring of biologically valuable forests, including those belonging to the international category of «forests of high conservation value», is relevant, especially in the old developed region, and is also poorly studied in terms of monitoring. The work summarizes the diagnostic characteristics of model forest objects, united by a single protection regime, forest management, heterogeneous in elements, largely subjected to transformations and having diverse homeostatic potential for identifying indicator indicators of forest «safety», i.e. to solve the problem of local forest areas with a minimum buffer zone.

The purpose of the article is to establish the presence of indicative biodiagnostic features in forest biocenoses in protected areas for assessment activities and management of the development of valuable communities in the Bryansk region.

Materials and methods. When surveying forest biocenoses (first stage 2015, second 2022-2023) in six protected areas, in the tracts of a large city, route, geobotanical, coenopopulation methods were used, the Simpson index was calculated, and reforestation was identified.

Results. The results were revealed: the greatest species diversity was revealed for tall grass spruce forests in small areas of the natural monument «Ryzhukha Swamp» (Navlinsky district). Unique communities - swampy pine forests, black alder forests with high species diversity (Simpson diversity index = 20.2) are described in the «Petrovskoe Swamp» forests (Mglinsky district). All model forest biocenoses under study have elements (groups) of biologically valuable forests. Polydominant spruce forests of the Navlinsky district, as a refugium of unique, including narrowly tolerant species, are recommended for inclusion in the regional Green Book. Forests and swampy forests of the «Petrovskoe Swamp» are subject to the least transformation from stress factors. Urban forests of varying degrees of transformation - old-growth stands of pine in the forest sheds tract, oak forests, their derivatives, black alder forests of the Zastavische tract - have the lowest indicators of the Simpson diversity index, a simplification of species composition and spatial structure - vertical and horizontal - are noted. All urban forests, however, play a significant environment-forming and recreational role. Analysis of phytocenotic (ecological-botanical) elements of the flora showed that in the forest areas of cities there is no «surge» of invasive species, but the transition from one ecological-botanical group to another is clearly identified. Thus, the ability to maintain homeostasis is preserved. The smallest participation of advents in the composition of local floras is represented in the protected areas «Orlovskie Dvoriki» (2%) and «Petrovskoe Swamp » (3%).

Conclusion. The conducted research made it possible to establish priority risk factors for forest biogeocenoses: insufficient area for the protection and reproduction of forests; recreation and location in developed areas; lack of a buffer zone necessary for the conservation and reproduction of edificatory species; introduction of adventive species into forest biogeocenoses and their naturalization; A special risk factor is the fragmentation of the territory and, as a consequence, the mosaic nature of plant communities, including the replacement of standard (quasi-native) communities with derivative, oligodominant ones. Thus, the ratio of ecological and botanical groups in the local flora of the forest areas under study serves as a good indicator of the preservation of forest biogeocenoses or the presence of stress load - recreational digression. It is also recommended to use the Simpson index and α-diversity indicators to indicate the «safety» of forest biocenoses.

EDN: ETNKPM