Dynamics of the pine forest ground cover in the forest-steppe zone after fires

Abstract

The ground cover in the forest plant community is the most dynamic structure. We analyzed the ground cover in the pre- and post-fire period in the forest community of a pine forest of natural origin, not damaged by fires, but located on the border of the harem. The study was carried out in biotopes of pine forest (Voronezh region, Educational and Experimental Forestry Enterprise of Voronezh State Forestry Engineering University named after G.F. Morozov) by describing the ground cover of the transect in several types of forest of areas undamaged by fire: dry forest, raw forest, subor. Over the past decade, the total number of ground cover species in the pine forest has been preserved (63 species), their species composition is changing. The greatest species diversity is characteristic of suborea. By 2022, steppe and meadow plants, primarily cereals, will appear in the flora, which indicates a change in environmental conditions. Ground lichens have completely disappeared, as well as 19 species of indicator plants, six of which are included in the Red Book of the Voronezh Region. There was a change in the structure of plant groups. Along with the indicator species, meadow and steppe species appear in the groups. The total projective coverage of the ground cover decreased from 80 to 68 %, as well as the projective coverage of the thicket (from 60 to 50%), mosses (from 80 to 70%), lingonberries (from 40 to 30%) in groups.