Sinelnikova. A boreal vegetation map of Magadan region and Chukotka as a part of CBVM project. In: The East Asian Flora: and its role in the formation of the world’s vegetation

A boreal vegetation map of Magadan region and Chukotka as a part of CBVM project

Nadezhda SINELNIKOVA
Institute of Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, Magadan, Russia

A boreal vegetation map of the Russian North-East is created on the key area as a part of CBVM. The main aims of the study are to determine basic units of vegetation for the scale 1:7 500 000 and to create a legend. The legend is based on a two-level hierarchial principle traditionally used in the Russian large-scale vegetation mapping. The basic units of the legend are physiognomic or combined physiognomic-floristic. The draft legend for Eurasian boreal vegetation (Ermakov @ Bohn 2011) is also used for the study. Zonal southern hypoarctic tundras within the boreal zone include tundra, dominated by low dwarf shrubs, lichens and mosses and moist tundra, dominated by tussock cottongrass, sedges and mosses alternating with tundra mires. Tundra vegetation covers the northern part of the territory (Anadyr region) where we can see the border of Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation map. Alpine vegetation within the boreal zone includes sparse vegetation of herbs, lichens, mosses and liverworts in the upper part of the alpine belt. Mountain tundra, dominated by dwarf shrubs and lichens is one of the main types of vegetation of North-East Asia. Subalpine and low-mountain vegetation is mainly represented by subalpine prostrate trees (krummholz), shrub vegetation and subalpine open larch woodlands. Pinus pumila and Larix cajanderi are the main species here. Numerous mosses and lichens form the ground layer. Plains and lowlands are covered by open larch forests with Betula spp. understory and open hygrophilous larch woodlands alternating with mires. Permafrost depressions and lakes are common on the territory. Azonal vegetation within boreal zone includes mires and floodplain vegetation. Mires dominated by cottongrasses and sedges mainly occur on lowlands and permafrost depressions. Oligotrophic mires, dominated by sedges and dwarf shrubs with Sphagnum moss cover are frequent on the flat mountain slopes. Floodplain poplar, willow and larch forests form the riverside vegetation along Kolyma, Anadyr and other large rivers. Small rivers and streams form riparian corridors with mixed vegetation on gravel bars and willow shrubbery on low floodplain terraces.