Poplar Forests of the Ob River near the Town of Kolpashevo, Tomsk Region, Russia

• Published in: Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology
• Main Authors: Georgy S. Taran, Alexander P. Dyachenko
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Siberian Federal University 2018
• Subjects: populus nigra; populus alba; populus ×canescens; syntaxonomy; alluvial forests; forest succession; kolpashevo meander; south taiga subzone; Biotechnology; TP248.13-248.65; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; ob river; taiga; Siberia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.17516/1997-1389-0064; https://doaj.org/article/f13e616cd1ee4a8981a85b1f407a3c06

Natural poplar (Populus nigra, Populus alba) forests of the Ob River were studied on the northern border of south taiga subzone (vicinities of the town of Kolpashevo, Kolpashevo district of Tomsk Region, 58º18′ N, 82º54′ E) on the floodplain segment formed in 1890–1970. They belong to association Anemonidio dichotomi-Populetum nigrae Taran 1993 (Equiseto hyemalis-Populion nigrae Taran 1997, Salicetalia purpureae Moor 1958, Salicetea purpureae Moor 1958) and 2 subassociations: Anemonidio dichotomi-Populetum nigrae typicum Taran 1993 and Anemonidio dichotomi- Populetum nigrae rubetosum saxatilis Taran subass. nov. The poplar forests were examined from young timber stage of black poplar (Populus nigra) to stage of its total extinction. General direction of the poplar forest succession is expressing in a replacement of black poplar stands by birch ones. On sandy soils, black poplar stands are changed by small-sized Scotch pine ones. At the middle stages of the succession, white poplar (Populus alba) plays a significant role, occasionally along with Populus ×canescens. However, white poplar doesn’t form stable stands near the town of Kolpashevo as it grows there at the northern border of its areal in Western Siberia. In studied poplar forests, the average species saturation was 42.4 and 14.4 species per 100 m2 for vascular plants and for mosses respectively. On the whole, 123 species of vascular plants and 34 species of mosses were registered in the poplar forests.