Structure and Dynamics of Pinus sibirica Du Tour Forest Stands at the Upper Limit of Their Growth in the Western Part of the Katunsky Range (Altai) under Climate Change

The forest boundary is characterized by being highly sensitive to climate change. In this regard, monitoring the distribution of forested areas on the southern and northern boundaries of the forest in lowland conditions, as well as the upper and lower boundaries of the forest in mountainous regions, is one of the simplest and most effective methods for studying the response of vegetation to climate change. In the western part of the Katun Range (Central Altai), based on the use of classical dendrochronological methods, the age of 891 Pinus sibirica Du Tour trees growing at different altitudes above sea level was established. Comparison of the altitudinal position of the upper limit of tree vegetation according to topographic maps of 1956 and modern satellite images made it possible to establish the rate of change in forested areas depending on the presence or absence of edaphic restrictions for the successful regeneration of tree species. It is shown that, starting from the second half of the 20th century. There is an intensive expansion of Pinus sibirica, the most common tree species in the study area, into the belt of mountain meadows and tundras. The nature and rate of colonization by woody vegetation vary significantly depending on the exposure of the slope and its hypsometric characteristics. The closest connections were found between the appearance of cedar and climatic indicators of the cold period (temperature and precipitation), this is especially typical for slopes with northern and eastern exposures. It was shown that the expansion of the forest was favored by a general change in climatic conditions in the study area.

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