Basova E. V., Lukina N. V., Kuznetsova A. I., Gornov A. V., Shevchenko N. E., Tikhonova E. V., Geraskina A. P., Braslavskaya T. V., Tebenkova D. N., Lugovaya D. L. The quality of wood litter as an informative indicator of functional forest classification// Voprosy lesnoi nauki. 2022. Article 105. Vol. 5. No. 3. Pp. 1–21. DOI 10.31509/2658-607X-202252-113
Abstract
Relevance and Objectives. In the context of global climate change, the climate-regulating function of forests deserves extra attention. So far, there are no functional forest classifications that would focus on the efficiency of the forest carbon accumulation function. The purpose of this article is to discuss an approach to creating such a classification based on assessment of wood litter quality.
Objects and Methods. To test the approach to allocating functional forest types (FFT) based on the quality of wood litter, considering the position in the landscape and the mechanical composition of soil-forming rocks, we used data on soils and vegetation obtained at 23 sites operating in the subzone of coniferous and deciduous forests of the European part of Russia in Bryansk Forest and Moskvoretsko-Okskaya Plain. The species composition of 160 descriptions of forest vegetation of Moscow Oblast, Bryansk Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, Kostroma Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, and the Republic of Adygea (Northwest Caucasus) was analyzed for the indirect assessment (using the ecological scale by E. Landolt in SpeDiv) of differences in the soil wealth of forests of different FFTs.
Results. The study provides examples of functional forest types (FFT) for coniferous-deciduous forests of the European part of Russia. It describes the differences in the level of soil carbon accumulation between different FFTs, as well as providing a preliminary assessment of the influence of the position in the landscape and the mechanical composition of soils on the accumulation of carbon in soils of the same FFT.
Conclusion. Based on the quality of litter in the tree layer, 15 FFTs have been identified, which is confirmed by examples based on geobotanical descriptions of forest communities common in the coniferous-deciduous forests of the European part of Russia and in the coniferous-deciduous forests of the Northwest Caucasus. The legitimacy of allocation of FFTs on the basis of efficiency of carbon storage in soils based on the quality of plant sediment, considering the influence of “external factors” such as position in the landscape and mechanical composition of soil-forming rocks, is confirmed by data obtained at 23 test sites. Estimates of soil carbon stocks, as well as soil wealth, determined using the ecological scale revealed differences among the allocated FFTs. Differences in carbon stocks among forest ecosystems in the same FFTs that developed on loamy and sandy-loam soil-forming rocks were revealed. Differences in soil carbon stocks have been confirmed in forests of the same FFTs occupying different positions in the landscape; in transit landscapes, soil carbon stocks were found to be higher than in autonomous ones.