Ecological and topological differentiation of biotopes in the Mountain Crimea

The article provides results of the quantitative score assessment of environmental conditions of plant communities (biotopes) and comparative analysis of the topological (altitude) gradient of changes using the method of synphytoindication and the Mountain Crimean geobotanical zone as an example. Of the 126 biotopes listed for the Mountain Crimea, we selected for the analysis 68 forest, shrub, grassland and petrophytic types, reflecting the patterns of topological differentiation, i.e. β-coenotic diversity within five geobotanical regions and altitudinal zones of the southern and northern macroslopes. In the article, we highlight the specifics of the methodology of field research and data processing, based on geobotanical relevés entered into the database in the TURBOVEG software and selected ecological and coenotic profiles. At the next stage, we assessed the living conditions of the biotopes by applying modern methods and programs TWISPAN, STATISTICA-7. On the basis of key biotopes, we identified combinations within the altitude zones treated as mesocombinations and those within the macroslopes – as macrocombinations. In the article, distribution of biotopes by mesocombinations, macrocombinations and geobotanical regions is provided. The model ecological-coenotic profiles of each geobotanical region of shrub-forest and petrophytic-grass series were built showing distribution of biotopes and graphs of the indicators of major ecological factors. The regularities of altitude changes and the nature of correlation were established. For climatic factors (thermo-, cryoregime, humidity, and climate continentality), we calculated relevant indicators and coefficients used in climatology. The obtained data form the basis for assessing the differentiation of biotopes, comparative analysis of the ecological conditions and forecasting potential changes.