Patterns of the red-listed epiphytic species distribution in coniferous-deciduous forests of the Moscow Region
- Author:
- Chernenkova T.V., Belyaeva N.G., Suslova E.G., Aristarkhova E.A. & Kotlov I.P.
- Year:
- 2023
- Journal:
- Geography, Environment, Sustainability
- Pages:
- 16(1): 119–131
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2022-101
Epiphytes model the diversity of forest communities and indicate the integrity of natural ecosystems or the threat to
their existence. The high sensitivity of epiphytic species to the environmental quality makes them good indicators in anthropogenic
landscapes. The study deals with the distribution patterns of rare indicator epiphytic species at the border of their range in the broad-
leaved–coniferous forest zone, in the central part of the East European Plain within the Moscow region. The distribution and abundance
of eight lichen species Anaptychia ciliaris, Bryoria fuscescens, B. implexa, Usnea dasopoga, U. glabrescens, U. hirta, U. subfloridana and the
epiphytic moss Neckera pennata were studied. The main environmental factors at the regional level were climate variables based on
the Worldclim database, water indices based on Sentinel-2 multispectral remote sensing data, and the anthropogenic impact factor in
terms of the Nighttime lights of the earth’s surface based on the Suomi NPP satellite system. It was revealed that the vast majority of
records were in the western and northern sectors of the region, i.e. in the broad-leaved–coniferous forest zone, while the vast majority
of 0-records were in the southern and eastern sectors, in the area of broad-leaved and pine forests and extensive reclaimed wetlands.
The association with different types of communities and biotopes, as well as tree species, was assessed at the ecosystem level, using
field data. It has been established that the distribution of the studied species is governed by natural-geographic features of the territory.
The principal limiting factors are air pollution, ecological restrictions (high humidity requirement of sites), cutting of mature forests and
formation of local anthropogenic infrastructure. In perspective the study of ecology and living conditions of the studied rare species
will help determine the optimal conditions contributing to biodiversity conservation in forests near large metropolitan areas and
optimization of habitat diversity.
Keywords: the red-listed epiphytic, forests, bioindicators, climate, anthropogenic impact, community ecology, biotope, urbanized
landscapes, Moscow region.
- Id:
- 36211
- Submitter:
- zpalice
- Post_time:
- Tuesday, 23 January 2024 17:20