Mixed forests of Russia. Plants and animals of mixed forest. Soil mixed forest

Broad-leaved and mixed forests constitute a much smaller percentage of the forest zone of Russia than the coniferous taiga. In Siberia they are completely absent. Broad-leaved and mixed forest areas are typical for the European part and the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation. They are formed by deciduous and coniferous tree species. They have not only a mixed composition of stands, but also differ in the diversity of the animal world, resistance to negative environmental influences, mosaic structure.

Types and stages of mixed forests

There are coniferous-small-leaved and mixed-broad-leaved forests. The former grow mainly in continental regions. Mixed forests have a well-marked stratum (change in the composition of the flora, depending on the height). The highest tier is high fir, pines, oaks. Birch trees, maples, elms, lindens, wild pears and apple-trees, younger oak trees and others grow somewhat lower. Further down are the lower trees: rowan, viburnum, etc. The next tier form shrubs: viburnum, hazel, hawthorn, rosehip, raspberry and many others. Next are the half-shrubs. At the very bottom grow herbs, lichens and mosses.

Intermediate and indigenous forms of coniferous-small-leaved forest

An interesting feature is that mixed-small-leaved massifs are considered only an intermediate stage in the formation of coniferous forests. However, they are also radical: arrays of stone birch (Kamchatka), birch spruce in the forest-steppe, aspen bushes and marshy alder forests (south of the European part of the Russian Federation). Forests of small-leaved type are very light. This promotes the violent growth of the grass cover and its diversity. Coniferous mixed forest broadleaf, in contrast, refers to sustainable natural formations. It is distributed in the transition belt between taiga and broadleaf types. Coniferous-deciduous forests grow on the plains and on the lowest mountain belt with moderate and humid climatic conditions.

Zone of mixed and deciduous forests

Coniferous-deciduous forests grow in warmer regions of the temperate zone. They are distinguished by the diversity and richness of the grass cover. They grow in discontinuous bands from the European part of Russia to the Far East. Their landscapes are favorable for people. To the south of the taiga there is a zone of mixed forests. They are distributed over the whole area of the East European Plain, as well as beyond the Urals (up to Priamurye). A solid zone is not formed.

The approximate border of the European section of broadleaved and mixed forests in the north lies at 57 ° N. W. Above it almost completely disappears oak (one of the key trees). The south almost touches the northern border of the forest-steppe, where the spruce completely disappears. This zone is a triangular area with two peaks in Russia (Ekaterinburg, St. Petersburg), and the third in Ukraine (Kiev). That is, as far as the distance from the main zone to the north, broad-leaved as well as mixed forests gradually leave the watershed spaces. They prefer warmer river valleys that are protected from icy winds and come out to the surface of carbonate rocks. On them forests of broadleaf and mixed type by small massifs gradually reach the taiga.

The East European plain is mostly flat and flat, with only occasional elevations. Here are the sources, basins and watersheds of the largest Russian rivers: the Dnieper, the Volga, the Western Dvina. On their floodplains meadows alternate with forests and arable land. In some regions, the lowlands, due to the proximity of groundwater, and also the limited flow, are sometimes extremely waterlogged. There are also sites with sandy soils on which pine forests grow. Bogs and cuttings grow berry bushes and grass. This area is most suitable for coniferous-deciduous forests.

Human influence

Broad-leaved as well as mixed forests are exposed to various influences from people for a long time. Therefore, many arrays have changed greatly: the native vegetation either is completely destroyed, or partially or completely replaced by secondary rocks. Now the remains of broadleaf forests that have survived under the harsh anthropogenic press have a different structure of flora changes. Some species, having lost their place in indigenous communities, grow in anthropogenically disturbed habitats or occupy intrasonal positions.

Climate

The climate of mixed forests is quite mild. It is characterized by a relatively warm winter (an average of 0 to -16 °) and a prolonged summer (16-24 ° C) compared with the taiga zone. The average annual precipitation is 500-1000 mm. It everywhere exceeds evaporation, which is a feature of the pronounced washing water regime. Mixed forests have such a characteristic feature, as the high level of development of the grass cover. Their average biomass is 2-3 thousand c / ha. The level of litter also exceeds the biomass of the taiga, however, due to the higher activity of microorganisms, the destruction of organic substances is much faster. Therefore, mixed forests have a smaller thickness and a greater level of decomposition of litter than taiga conifers.

Mixed forest grounds

The soils of mixed forests are diverse. The cover has a rather motley structure. On the territory of the East European Plain the most common type is the sod-podzolic soil. It is a southern variety of classical podzolic soils and is formed only in the presence of soil-forming rocks of loamy type. The sod-podzolic soil has the same profile structure and similar structure. It differs from podzolic with a lower massiveness of the litter (up to 5 cm), as well as a more significant thickness of all horizons. And these are not the only differences. Sod-podzolic soils have a more pronounced humus horizon A1, which is under the litter. Its appearance differs from a similar layer of podzolic soils. The upper part contains the roots of the grass cover and forms a turf. The horizon can be painted in various shades of gray and has a loose structure. The layer thickness is 5-20 cm, the humus content is up to 4%. The upper part of the profile of these soils has an acid reaction. As it becomes deeper, it becomes even smaller.

Soils of mixed-deciduous forests

Gray forest soils of mixed-broad-leaved forests are formed in the inland regions. In Russia, they are distributed from the European part to Transbaikalia. In such soils, sediments penetrate to great depths. However, the groundwater horizons are often very deep. Therefore, wetting of the soil to their level is characteristic only in highly humid areas.

Soils of mixed forests are better suited for agriculture than substrates of taiga. In the southern regions of the European part of Russia arable land is up to 45% of the area. Closer to the north and the taiga, the share of arable land is gradually decreasing. Agriculture in these regions is difficult due to the strong leaching, swampiness and soil sagging. To get good crops, a lot of fertilizer is required.

General characteristics of fauna and flora

Plants and animals of mixed forests are very diverse. According to the species richness of flora and fauna, they are comparable only to tropical jungles and are home to many predators and herbivores. Here, on the tall trees, squirrels and other living creatures live, on the birds' nests make nests on the crowns, hares and foxes settle down on the roots, and near the rivers live beavers. The species diversity of the mixed zone is very large. Here the residents of the taiga and broad-leaved forests feel comfortable, as well as the inhabitants of the forest-steppe. Some are awake all year round, while others are hibernating for the winter. Plants and animals of mixed forest have a symbiotic relationship. Many herbivores eat different berries, which are very many in mixed forests.

Trees of mixed forest

Mixed-small-leaved forest tracts are approximately 90% composed of trees of coniferous and small-leaved trees. There are not many broad-leaved species. Together with coniferous trees, aspen, birch, alder, willow, poplar grow in them. Bereznyakov in the array of this type of most. As a rule, they are secondary - that is, they grow on forest fires, on felling and clearing, old unused arable land. In open habitats, such forests are well resumed and grow rapidly in the early years . The economic activity of a person contributes to the expansion of their areas .

Coniferous-deciduous forests predominantly consist of firs, limes, pines, oaks, elms, elms, maples, and in the southwestern regions of the Russian Federation - beech, ash and hornbeam. The same trees, but local varieties, grow in the Far Eastern region along with grapes, manchurian nuts and lianas. In many respects, the composition and structure of the forest stands of coniferous-broad-leaved forests depends on climatic conditions, relief and soil-hydrological regime of a particular region. Oak, spruce, maple, fir and other species prevail in the North Caucasus. But the most diverse in composition are the Far Eastern forests of coniferous-broad-leaved type. They are formed by cedar pine, white fir, ayana spruce, several varieties of maple, Manchurian ash, Mongolian oak, Amur lime and the above-mentioned local vegetation species.

Species diversity of wildlife

Of the large herbivores in mixed forests, moose, bison, wild boar, roe deer and spotted deer live (the species is imported and adapted). From rodents there are forest squirrels, martens, ermines, beavers, chipmunks, otters, mice, badgers, mink, black ferrets. Mixed forests abound with a large number of bird species. Further, many of them are listed, but far from everything: the Oriol, the nuthatch, the chrysanthemum, the blackbird, the goshawk, the hazel grouse, the bullfinch, the nightingale, the cuckoo, the hoopoe, the gray crane, the goldfinch, the woodpecker, the black grouse, the finch. More or less large predators are represented by wolves, lynxes and foxes. Mixed forests are also home to rabbits (hogs and whites), lizards, hedgehogs, snakes, frogs and brown bears.

Mushrooms and berries

Berries are represented by blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, cranberries, blackberries, bird-cherries, strawberries, bush, elderberry, mountain ash, kalina, rosehip, hawthorn. In the forests of this type, there are a lot of edible mushrooms: boletus, white, valuvia, chanterelles, russules, honey agarics, mushrooms, maslings, freckles, various ryadovki, podberezoviki, mosses, gingerbreads and others. One of the most dangerous poisonous macromycetes are fly agarics and pale toadstools.

Shrubs

Mixed forests of Russia are replete with bushes. The level of the undergrowth is extremely developed. Oak forests are characterized by the presence of hazel, spindles, wolfwood, honeysuckle forest, and in the northern zone - the buckthorn is fragile. On the fringes and in the woodlands grows a dogrose. In forests of coniferous-broadleaf type, there are also liano-like plants: new fence, hops curly, nightshade is sweet-bitter.

Herbs

A great variety of species, as well as a complex vertical structure, are herb mixed forests (especially coniferous-broadleaf type). The most typical and widely represented category is mesophilic nemoral plants. Among them are representatives of oak forest broad-grass. These are plants in which the leaf plate has a significant width. These include: a long-standing proleucidum, an ordinary sod, an unidentified lungwort, a lily of the valley in May, a European hoof, a filbert sedge, a greenish yellow, a star lanceolate, a nomad (black and spring), an amazing violet. The cereals are represented by bluegrass fescue, giant fescue, reed grass forest, short-legged pinnate, birch branchy and some others. Flat leaves of these plants are a variant of adaptation to the specific phytosphere of coniferous-broad-leaved forests.

In addition to the above-mentioned perennial species, these herbs also contain herbs of the ephemeric group. Their vegetation period they transfer to the spring time, when the lighting is maximum. After the snow comes down, it is the ephemeroids that form a beautifully blooming carpet of yellow frenzies and goose bows, purple cribs and lilac-bluish spruce. These plants pass the life cycle in a couple of weeks, and when the leaves of the trees bloom, their overhead part eventually dies. They experience an unfavorable period under a layer of soil in the form of tubers, bulbs and rhizomes.