Definition criteria and structure of stands in the old-growth forests of the Altai Mountains

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Abstract

Old-growth forests with very old trees are important ecosystems for nature and humans. There are practically no publications regarding their structure in the Altai Mountains. The objective of the study is to identify old-growth forests in the Altai Mountains using structural and successional criteria of the old-growth stage based on the analysis of the structure of their tree storey. In these forests, 29 sample plots were laid in 8 study areas on 4 mountain ranges. Their tree storey is dominated by Siberian pine and Siberian larch. The average maximum age of pine was 410—590 years, larch — 360—560 years, the average age of the main generation of trees was equal or less. These uneven-aged stands are morphologically complex, with 1—3 tree storeys and 2—4 generations of trees. Ontogenetic spectra of the Siberian pine coenopopulation are complete, while those of the larch are incomplete. Siberian pine dominates as seedlings. Age distributions of tree coenopopulations have an inverse J-shaped, uneven, multimodal form. A distinctive feature of these forests is the presence among the age parcels (gap mosaics) the parcels with dominance of the g3 (g3+g3–ss+g3–s) state individuals, with the possibility of their further transition to individuals of other growth forms: “living stump” or “living log”. Due to the latter, it is possible to extend the ontogenesis of individual trees by another ≈200 years. And the complete ontogenesis of a tree with further transition to another growth form can be 700—800 years or more. In the absence of catastrophic impacts, old-growth forests of Siberian pine and larch can exist indefinitely. Criteria for old-growth forests in the Altai Mountains have been clarified.

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About the authors

S. A. Nikolaeva

Institute of monitoring of climatic and ecological systems, Siberian branch of the Russian academy of sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: sanikol1@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, Academichesky ave., 10/3, Tomsk, 634055

D. A. Savchuk

Institute of monitoring of climatic and ecological systems, Siberian branch of the Russian academy of sciences

Email: sanikol1@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, Academichesky ave., 10/3, Tomsk, 634055

E. O. Filimonova

Institute of monitoring of climatic and ecological systems, Siberian branch of the Russian academy of sciences

Email: sanikol1@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, Academichesky ave., 10/3, Tomsk, 634055

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2. Fig. 1. Map-layout of the research areas in Gorny Altai: 1 — the southern part of the Seminsky range (1100-1800 m), 2 — the mountain glacial basin (GLB) Akkem (2050-2240 m), 3 — Kurkurek GLB (2000-2400 m), 4 — the Estikel tract (1800-2000 m), 5 — GLB Korumdu (1900-2200 m), 6 — GLB Aktru (2150-2300 m), 7 — GLB Akkol (2200-2400 m), 8 — Jazator tract (2000-2200 m), 9 — Kyga river basin (southern shore of Lake Teletskoye, Altai State Cemetery), 10 — Kamga River basin (northeastern shore of Lake Baikal). Teletskoye, Altai State Gazetteer).

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3. Fig. 2. Ontogenetic spectra of cedar and larch from fragments of forests in some areas of GLB Aktru, (I, II), Jazator tract (III, g) and GLB Akkem (III, h, i). Communities: I — “subalpine", II, III — “taiga” type. Each letter corresponds to a fragment of the forest containing the following elements: 2a, 2b, 3 (a), 11a, 11b, 11b (b), 10a, 10b (c), 4a, 4b, 4l (d), 5 (e), 8 (f), 2 (g), 14, 15 (h), 8 (i). Ontogenetic states: j — juvenile, im — immature, v — virginal, g1 — young generative, g2 –mature generative, g3 –old generative. Type of tree: K — cedar, Lc — larch.

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4. Fig. 3. Diameter distribution of cedar and larch trees from fragments of forests in some regions of the Altai Mountains. The designations are shown in Fig. 2.

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