Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus

Aim. To identify the modern phytocenotic and floristic diversity of the Western Caucasus and to present the specifics of its florocenocomplexes.Material and Methods. The article is written on the basis of many years of expeditionary and stationary research using classical geobotanical methods.Result...

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Main Author: S. A. Litvinskaya
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Kamerton 2020-04-01
Series:Юг России: экология, развитие
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Online Access:https://ecodag.elpub.ru/ugro/article/view/1870
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author S. A. Litvinskaya
author_facet S. A. Litvinskaya
author_sort S. A. Litvinskaya
collection DOAJ
description Aim. To identify the modern phytocenotic and floristic diversity of the Western Caucasus and to present the specifics of its florocenocomplexes.Material and Methods. The article is written on the basis of many years of expeditionary and stationary research using classical geobotanical methods.Results. According to research the flora of the region comprises about 3,500 species of vascular plants from 178 families and 936 genera, indicating a high level of floristic diversity. The spectrum of the leading families of the Western Caucasus is close to the Mediterranean type. The region’s flora has a high index of endemism. The vegetation cover is characterized by latitudinal and altitudinal zonation. The sozological significance of ceno‐complexes is shown. The principal vegetation types of the region are considered: the ancient flood‐littoral landscapes of the river Kuban delta, the psammophilic littoral vegetation with specific rare species of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, steppe communities, mountain forests, ecotone zone of crooked and subalpine forests, subalpine and alpine meadows and carpets. A petrophytic flora complex (Petrophyton) is represented in each altitudinal zone. For high mountain petrophytic cenoses, the cenotic structure and endemic species are given. The floristic and cenotic differentiation of the forests of the Western Caucasus is conidered.Conclusions.The Western Caucasus is one of the centres of floristic and cenotic diversity of the Caucasian ecoregion. It is characterized by a high population and species diversity, a large number of endemic species and ceno‐complexes. The Western Caucasus is a refugium of ancient ecosystems with Colchidic and Mediterranean roots.
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spelling doaj-art-a2ec01ff388f486ebd76cd7de174b2062025-08-20T03:00:05ZrusKamertonЮг России: экология, развитие1992-10982413-09582020-04-01151374810.18470/1992-1098-2020-1-37-481092Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western CaucasusS. A. Litvinskaya0Kuban State UniversityAim. To identify the modern phytocenotic and floristic diversity of the Western Caucasus and to present the specifics of its florocenocomplexes.Material and Methods. The article is written on the basis of many years of expeditionary and stationary research using classical geobotanical methods.Results. According to research the flora of the region comprises about 3,500 species of vascular plants from 178 families and 936 genera, indicating a high level of floristic diversity. The spectrum of the leading families of the Western Caucasus is close to the Mediterranean type. The region’s flora has a high index of endemism. The vegetation cover is characterized by latitudinal and altitudinal zonation. The sozological significance of ceno‐complexes is shown. The principal vegetation types of the region are considered: the ancient flood‐littoral landscapes of the river Kuban delta, the psammophilic littoral vegetation with specific rare species of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, steppe communities, mountain forests, ecotone zone of crooked and subalpine forests, subalpine and alpine meadows and carpets. A petrophytic flora complex (Petrophyton) is represented in each altitudinal zone. For high mountain petrophytic cenoses, the cenotic structure and endemic species are given. The floristic and cenotic differentiation of the forests of the Western Caucasus is conidered.Conclusions.The Western Caucasus is one of the centres of floristic and cenotic diversity of the Caucasian ecoregion. It is characterized by a high population and species diversity, a large number of endemic species and ceno‐complexes. The Western Caucasus is a refugium of ancient ecosystems with Colchidic and Mediterranean roots.https://ecodag.elpub.ru/ugro/article/view/1870western caucasusfloravegetationdifferentiationlittoralsteppesforestsmeadowsrock complexesendemismrare specie
spellingShingle S. A. Litvinskaya
Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus
Юг России: экология, развитие
western caucasus
flora
vegetation
differentiation
littoral
steppes
forests
meadows
rock complexes
endemism
rare specie
title Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus
title_full Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus
title_fullStr Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus
title_full_unstemmed Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus
title_short Florophytocenotic Diversity of the Western Caucasus
title_sort florophytocenotic diversity of the western caucasus
topic western caucasus
flora
vegetation
differentiation
littoral
steppes
forests
meadows
rock complexes
endemism
rare specie
url https://ecodag.elpub.ru/ugro/article/view/1870
work_keys_str_mv AT salitvinskaya florophytocenoticdiversityofthewesterncaucasus