Krylov A.G.
Life forms of forest phytocenoses in Primorye, USSR
Year: 1974, Issue: XXII, Pages: 32 - 60
This investigation was carried out to identify the most char acteristic life forms of forest phytocnoses in Primorye. The life form of phytocenoses reflects the structural adaptation of a plant community to environmental conditions. It is determined basing on the life forms of plant that form the main synusia. It is also determined by the functional role of different synusia in their mutual influence and by environmental factors. In the classification of plant life forms, their types correspond with the principal growth f forms (trees, shrubs, undershrubs, grasses). The classes and groups of life forms are distinguished with respect to shoot forming the structure and longevity of leaves, as well as light and soil conditions. Profile diagrams clearly show the above-ground structure of tree and shrub layers of forest phytocenoses. An analysis of the seven profile diagrams for broad -leaved, broad -leaved -cedar, poplar, chosenia, larch -dark-coniferous and larch forests shows some types of synusial composition in the aboriginal forests of Primorye. A brief geobotanical characteristic is given for the following life forms of forest phytocenoses: taiga, broad-leaved dark-coniferous forest, oak (xero-mesophilic deciduous) forest, taiga-boglarch forest, grassy -swamp larch forest, willow (narrow-leaved flood plain) forest, broad-leaved floodplain forest broad-leaved forest, mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests andbor. The first three life forms characterize the zonal taiga vegetation and mixed deciduous-dark-coniferous and oak belts of mountain regions in Primorye. The remaining phytocenoses are developed depending on soil peculiaities. Forests with different phytocenoses life forms may be connected successively. Life forms of forest phytocenoses have no independent taxonomic value. In natural classification of forests. They serve as a feature for distinguishing classes into formations.