[Modern dynamics of the south line of continuous expansion of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) in Belarus]
2009
Ermokhin, M.V. | Pugachevskij, A.V., National Academy of Sciences, Minsk (Belarus). The V.F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany
The revelation of the south line of the boreal zone of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) continuous expansion in the Republic of Belarus was realized for the determination of the climatic and orographically determined peculiar features of forest plant communities. With the help of geographical information system (GIS) technologies there were revealed changes in Norway spruce expansion in Belarus from the end of the 1960s till the beginning of the 2000s. Long-term total reclamation works in the observed region in combination with climate change caused the boundary moving at some patches on 20-30 kilometers northward. At present, the area of isolated spruce habitats is 4900 ha (0,4% from the whole forest area). More than 70% of isolated spruce stands grow on the water-logged soil. On the contrary, it was revealed that in the areas of the continuous expansion along the southern border only about 40% of spruce stands grew on water-logged soils. The continuous climate change increases the probability of drought occurrence at the vegetation period with the simultaneous lowering of ground water level that could cause the further lowering of the natural areas of Norway spruce in Belarus. At the same time, the homogeneous forest stands in Polesje region of Belarus even on soils with the optimal soil moisture could be referred to the high-risk group and could experience full or partial mortality
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