Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition
Central Kamchatka abounds in virgin old-growth boreal forest, formed primarily by Larix cajanderi and Betula platyphylla in varying proportions. A series of eight 0.25–0.30 ha plots captured the range of forests present in this region and their structure is described. Overall trends in both uplands...
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Molecular Diversity Preservation International
2010
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ftmdpi:oai:mdpi.com:/1999-4907/1/3/154/ 2023-08-20T04:07:39+02:00 Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition Markus P. Eichhorn agris 2010-09-27 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.3390/f1030154 EN eng Molecular Diversity Preservation International https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f1030154 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Forests; Volume 1; Issue 3; Pages: 154-176 birch Far East Russia larch forest mensuration pine size distribution Text 2010 ftmdpi https://doi.org/10.3390/f1030154 2023-07-31T20:25:19Z Central Kamchatka abounds in virgin old-growth boreal forest, formed primarily by Larix cajanderi and Betula platyphylla in varying proportions. A series of eight 0.25–0.30 ha plots captured the range of forests present in this region and their structure is described. Overall trends in both uplands and lowlands are for higher sites to be dominated by L. cajanderi with an increasing component of B. platyphylla with decreasing altitude. The tree line on wet sites is commonly formed by mono-dominant B. ermanii forests. Basal area ranged from 7.8–38.1 m2/ha and average tree height from 8.3–24.7 m, both being greater in lowland forests. Size distributions varied considerably among plots, though they were consistently more even for L. cajanderi than B. platyphylla. Upland sites also contained a dense subcanopy of Pinus pumila averaging 38% of ground area. Soil characteristics differed among plots, with upland soils being of lower pH and containing more carbon. Comparisons are drawn with boreal forests elsewhere and the main current threats assessed. These forests provide a potential baseline to contrast with more disturbed regions elsewhere in the world and therefore may be used as a target for restoration efforts or to assess the effects of climate change independent of human impacts. Text Kamchatka MDPI Open Access Publishing Forests 1 3 154 176 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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MDPI Open Access Publishing |
op_collection_id |
ftmdpi |
language |
English |
topic |
birch Far East Russia larch forest mensuration pine size distribution |
spellingShingle |
birch Far East Russia larch forest mensuration pine size distribution Markus P. Eichhorn Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition |
topic_facet |
birch Far East Russia larch forest mensuration pine size distribution |
description |
Central Kamchatka abounds in virgin old-growth boreal forest, formed primarily by Larix cajanderi and Betula platyphylla in varying proportions. A series of eight 0.25–0.30 ha plots captured the range of forests present in this region and their structure is described. Overall trends in both uplands and lowlands are for higher sites to be dominated by L. cajanderi with an increasing component of B. platyphylla with decreasing altitude. The tree line on wet sites is commonly formed by mono-dominant B. ermanii forests. Basal area ranged from 7.8–38.1 m2/ha and average tree height from 8.3–24.7 m, both being greater in lowland forests. Size distributions varied considerably among plots, though they were consistently more even for L. cajanderi than B. platyphylla. Upland sites also contained a dense subcanopy of Pinus pumila averaging 38% of ground area. Soil characteristics differed among plots, with upland soils being of lower pH and containing more carbon. Comparisons are drawn with boreal forests elsewhere and the main current threats assessed. These forests provide a potential baseline to contrast with more disturbed regions elsewhere in the world and therefore may be used as a target for restoration efforts or to assess the effects of climate change independent of human impacts. |
format |
Text |
author |
Markus P. Eichhorn |
author_facet |
Markus P. Eichhorn |
author_sort |
Markus P. Eichhorn |
title |
Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition |
title_short |
Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition |
title_full |
Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition |
title_fullStr |
Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Boreal Forests of Kamchatka: Structure and Composition |
title_sort |
boreal forests of kamchatka: structure and composition |
publisher |
Molecular Diversity Preservation International |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/f1030154 |
op_coverage |
agris |
genre |
Kamchatka |
genre_facet |
Kamchatka |
op_source |
Forests; Volume 1; Issue 3; Pages: 154-176 |
op_relation |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f1030154 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/f1030154 |
container_title |
Forests |
container_volume |
1 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
154 |
op_container_end_page |
176 |
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1774719464366931968 |