Bocharnikov M.V. THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CRYOPHYTE STEPPES’ AND POLSTER COMMUNITIES’ SPECIES WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF STELLARIA PULVINATA GRUB. IN THE MONGOLIAN ALTAI // Arid ecosystems. 2021. V. 27. № 1 (86). P. 62-73. | PDF

The analysis of the vascular plant species distribution involved in the floristic diversity of high-mountain plant communities with the participation of stitchwort polster (Stellaria pulvinata Grub.) is carried out. These communities form a separate altitudinal belt in the spectrum of arid zonality vegetation type in the central part of the Mongolian Altai (2700-3300 m). The species of cryophyte steppes and polster communities are identified. These include species of the cryo-xerophytic high-mountain conditions (Oxytropis oligantha, O. chionophylla, Saussurea leucophylla, Chamaerhodos altaica, Arenaria meyeri), montane species of the South Siberia and the Central Asia (Festuca kryloviana, Poa altaica), sod grasses represented by typical steppe species with wide distribution (Festuca lenensis, Koeleria cristata). Using modeling of spatial distribution it is shown that the ecological and coenotic optimum of most species is located outside the area of ​​development of cryophyte steppes and polster communities in the region. In according to the identified potential distribution of species coenotically connected with Stellaria pulvinata, the strong relations of the vegetation cover of the Central Mongolian Altai with the mountains of Southern Siberia are identified.

Keywords: cryophyte steppes, cryophyte polster communities, Stellaria pulvinata, high mountain vegetation, Mongolian Altai, spatial distribution modeling.

DOI: 10.24411/1993-3916-2021-10138