Composition, structure and dynamics of poplar forests in the Lena Pillars National Park

This article presents the findings from research conducted on poplar forests within the Lena Pillars National Park. Prior to this study, there had been no detailed research on the poplar forests in the park; only general characteristicsand brief descriptions of forest types were available. The article provides a comprehensive description of tree stands, analyzes the ecological structure of the flora in poplar forests, examines the dynamics of floodplain vegetation, and traces the succession series in the floodplains of the Buotama, Kuranakh, and Labyya rivers within the National Park. At different stages of development, the forests formed by the poplar tree stand are serial (temporary) types, naturally progressing from rare-herb association, mix herb + Equisetum pretense + Calamagrostis langsdorffii (in young poplar stands) → mix herb + shrubs (middle-aged stands, ripening stands) → tall herb + shrub associations with spruce and larch (in ripening, and overmature forests). As the floodplain emerges, the development of poplar forests inevitably transitions to being replaced by coniferous forests. When the overmature poplar tree stand collapses, spruce and larchspruce and birch forests form in its place. Poplar forests in the Lena Pillars National Park are characterized by high productivity; forest stands develop according to Bonitat classes 3-4. Research on the taxation of poplar forests has allowed for the evaluation of the interdependence of different morphometric traits of poplar trees. The correlation has verified the existence of consistent relationships between specific tax indicators. The findings from the study will contribute to understanding the plant life and vegetation in Lena Pillars National Park and the poplar forests of Yakutia. This data can be used to evaluate how the vegetation in the park’s poplar forests may change in the future.

1. Timofeev P.A. Forest vegetation in the National Nature Park “Lena Pillars”. In: Solomonov N.G. (ed.). National Nature Park “Lena Pillars”: Geology, soils, vegetation, fauna, protection and use: Collection of scientific papers. Yakutsk: Yakut University Publishing House; 2001, pp. 120–130. (In Russ.)

2. Efremov A.A., Chikidov I.I. Study of young pine trees at the mouth of the River Buotama. In: Solomonov N.G. (ed.) Nature Park “Lena Pillars”: Past, present and future: Collection of scientific papers. Institute of Biological problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS, Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); 2007, pp. 177–182. (In Russ.)

3. Isayev A.P., Mikhaleva L.G., Konstantinova L.D., et al. Map of forests in the National Nature Park “Lena Pillars”. In: Solomonov N.G. (ed.). National Nature Park “Lena Pillars”: Geology, soils, vegetation, fauna, protection and use: Collection of scientific papers. Yakutsk: Yakut University Publishing House; 2001, pp. 1300136. (In Russ.)

4. National Nature Park “Lena Pillars”: Geology, soils, vegetation, fauna, protection and use: Collection of scientific papers. Yakutsk: Yakut University Publishing House; 2001. 267 p. (In Russ.)

5. Nature Park “Lena Pillars”: Past, present and future: Collection of scientific papers. Yakutsk: Institute of Biological problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS, Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); 2007. 296 p. (In Russ.)

6. Timofeev P.A. Forests in Yakutia: composition, resources, use and protection. Novosibirsk: SB RAS Publishing House; 2003. 194 p. (In Russ.)

7. Sukachev V.N., Zonn S.V. Guidelines for studying forest types. Moscow: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1961. 143 p. (In Russ.)

8. Ponyatovskaya V.M. Studying the prevalence and spread of species in natural plant communities. In: Field geobotany. Moscow, Leningrad: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1964, pp. 209–299. (In Russ.)

9. Andreyev V.N.,Galaktionova T.F., Gorovoy P.G., et al. Key to the higher plants in Yakutia. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 1974. 544 p. (In Russ.)

10. Afanas’eva E.A., Baikov K.S., Bobrov A.A., et al. Key to the higher plants in Yakutia Moscow: KMK Scientific Press; Novosibirsk: Nauka; 2020. 895 p. (In Russ.)

11. Krasnoborov I.M., Lomonosova M.N., Tupitsyna N.N., et al. Flora Sibiriae. Tomus 13: Asteraceae (Compositae). In 14 tomis. Novosibirsk: Nauka. Siberian Enterprise RAS; 1997. 472 p. (In Russ.)

12. Timokhina S.A., Frizen N.V., Vlasova N.V., et al. Flora Sibiriae. Tomus 6: Portulacaceae­Ranunculaceae. In 14 tomis. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 1993. 310 p. (In Russ.)

13. Fabaceae (Leguminosae) In 14 tomis. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 1994. 280 p. (In Russ.)

14. Kuznetsova L.V., Zakharova V.I. Overview of the flora in Yakutia: vascular plants. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 2012. 272 p. (In Russ.)

15. Zakharova V.I., Kuznetsova L.V., Ivanova E.I. Variety of flora in Yakutia. Novosibirsk: SB RAS Publishing House; 2005. 328 p. (In Russ.)

16. Timofeyev P.A., Isayev A.P., Shcherbakov I.P., et al. Forests in the central taiga region of Yakutia. Yakutsk: FRC YaSC SB RAS; 1994. 140 p. (In Russ.)

17. Zarkhina E.S. Poplar forests. Forests in the Far East. Moscow: Lesnaya Promyshlennost’ Publ.; 1969. 392 p. (In Russ.)

18. Starikov G.F. Forests in the Magadan region. Magadan: Knizhnoe izdatel’stvo Publ.; 1958. 223 p. (In Russ.)

19. Tyulina L.N. The forest flora in the central and lower regions of the Uchura basin. Moscow, Leningrad: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1962. 149 p. (In Russ.)

20. Shcherbakov I.P. Forest cover in the northeastern region of the USSR. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 1975. 344 с. (In Russ.).

21. Boychenko A.M., Isaev A.P. Forests in the middle reaches of the Kolyma River valley. In: The ecological issues of Yakutia. Issue 1. Biogeographical research:Collection of scientific papers. Yakutsk: Yakut State University Publishing House; 1996, pp. 95–101. (In Russ.)

22. Tyulina L.N. Forest vegetation along the middle and lower sections of the Yudoma River and the lower parts of the Mai River. Moscow: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1959. 222 p. (In Russ.).