The assessment of forest coenotic diversity and its dynamics in Moscow region reference landscapes based on remote sensing data

Abstract

The article presents the results of the assessment of the coenotic variety of forests of reference landscapes of glacial and water-ice genesis of the Moscow region in different physico-geographical regions, such as Verkhnevolzhskaya lowland, Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya range, Teplostanskaya Upland and Meshcherskaya lowland. The assessment basis was the vegetation map of the Moscow region (1 : 200 000) and space images of the Landsat system. A basic unit of assessment is epiassociation, which presents the ecological condition of the forest cover. It provides the possibility of using the ratio of indigenous, short- and long-term communities to determine the extent of human impact and forest ecological functions preservation. Based on the cartographic method of research, landscape complexes of forest types have been identified, and the ecosystem diversity at the local level has been assessed. The vegetation map of the Moscow region has been updated as a result. The authors found that in the landscape of Verkhnevolzhskaya lowland the main spaces are occupied by fir and pine short-term forests. The landscapes of the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya range and Meshcherskaya lowland are dominated by coniferous forests; the Teplostanskaya Upland — by coniferous-deciduous forests. In all considered landscapes, the authors noted a strong reduction of forest cover. Primarily it is associated with the human impact increase on natural ecosystems. The strongest reduction in forest areas and forest cover fragmentation occurred in the landscapes of the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya range and Teplostanskaya Upland. Reduction maps of forest cover of reference landscapes were compiled based on the data obtained.