Neshataev V.Yu., Neshatayeva V.Yu., Yakubov V.V.
Vegetation of Russia 2017; (31): 59–76
Aquatic and semi-aquatic communities of Koryak national district are so far studied very poorly. Only B. Tikhomirov (1935) had cited few data on the aquatic vegetation of Penzhina River basin. This paper presents an analysis of 68 releves (obtained in 2011-2016) of aquatic, littoral and shore vegetation in the surroundings of Talovskoye lake, the largest lake of the Parapolskiy dol area (Penzhinskiy district, Kamchatka Territory). The plant community classification was elaborated using the Russian school dominant-determinant approach. The vegetation of water area and lake shores is referred to Potamogetonetion, Limoselletion, Phragmitetion vegetation types; that of flood-plain terraces to Festucetion pratensis and Salicetion. 23 formations and 30 associations (including 2 new ones) were characterized. The vegetation cover of Talovskoye lake and its surroundings is low in species number and community diversity. Oligotrophic communities, widely spread around Northern Eurasia, predominate. Oligotrophic species are abundant in the aquatic communities while oligomesotrophic and mesotrophic ones prevailed in oxbows and flood-plain lakes. The high abundance of Arctophila fulva, Batrachium trichophyllum, Callitriche palustris, Caltha palustris subsp. sibirica, C. natans, Deschampsia komarovii, Eleocharis acicularis, Glyceria lithuanica, Hippuris vulgaris, Limosella aquatica, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Persicaria lapathifolia, Potamogeton gramineus, Ranunculus gmelinii, R. reptans, Sparganium angustifolium, S. emersum, S. hyperboreum, S. natans, Subularia aquatica is common in seasonally drained sites of the lake bottom. The shores of small-size lakes (250-300 m in diameter) are usually low and swampy. Hydrophyte vegetation is represented by pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus, P. perfoliatus) and bur-reed communities (Sparganium emersum, S. angustifolium, S. hyperboreum). The onshore helophyte communities dominated by Carex rhynchophysa, C. rostrata, Comarum palustre, Eriophorum polystachyon, Hippuris vulgaris, and Menyanthes trifoliata form narrow strips. Underdeveloped aquatic and semi-aquatic littoral vegetation is character for medium-size lakes (300-700 м in diameter). The helophyte border (up to 3 m wide) is well developed along the whole lake shore line. Sometimes the swampy shores and quagmires with the predominance of Menyanthes trifoliata are met; occasionally the stretches of boggy shores with the predominance of cotton grass (Eriophorum )-Sphagnum-rich communities occur. The lakes of medium -size are filled by well-developed aquatic and littoral vegetation. About 30 % of shoreline is occupied by wide (10 m wide and more) helophyte stripe formed by the thickets of Equisetum fluviatile, Arctophila fulva, Cicuta virosa, Comarum palustre, Carex rhynchophysa, C. rostrata. The hydrophyte communities are made by pondweeds (Potamogeton gramineus, P. perfoliatus), Myriophyllum verticillatum, sometimes by Utricularia intermedia, U. macrorhiza that formed thickets in the water profile. On the lake shores, lowland grass meadows with the predominance of Arctophila fulva, Glyceria lithuanica, Deschampsia komarovii occurred as well as shrubby willow thickets (Salix pulchra). Grass meadows (Calamagrostis purpurea subsp. langsdorffii) and large-sedge communities are common on the lake shores. The large-size lakes (more than 700 m in diameter) have the vast areas of shallow water. These are the areas of littoral helophyte communities. Monodominant thickets of Arctophila fulva and Equisetum fluviatile occupy the shallow waters rich by organic matter. On seasonally drained clay and sandy loam bottoms, Senecio palustris predominates. Along the shores wide strips of sedge hummocks (Carex appendiculata) stretched alternating with the patches of swampy sedge communities (C. cryptocarpa, C. rostrata) with admixture of Cicuta virosa. Further from the lake shores, the flooded grass meadows and shrub willow thickets are common. The long-drained lake bas
