Makhinov A. N., Bogatov V. V.
Russian Journal of Ecology 2026; 57(2): 53-61
The morphological diversity of the channel relief of small mountain rivers of Sikhote-Alin was established, caused by the specific impact of dense woody vegetation on the intensity of horizontal and ver- tical deformations of the channels. The role of large trees in the spatial stability of river beds, the structure of stretches and riffles, and the combination of areas with sediments of different granulometric compositions has been revealed. The causes and mechanism of furcation of the channels of mountain rivers in the region, caused by the formation of small blockages consisting of several large trees, are considered. Based on the anal- ysis of the distribution of current velocities, depths, and composition of bottom sediments on the adjacent ele- ments of the channel relief, the diversity of habitat conditions for river hydrobionts is shown. Small streams in mountain-taiga regions, when the channel flow interacts with trees growing and lying in the river, signifi- cantly increase the heterogeneity of the channel, contributing to a sharp differentiation of various ecological niches for aquatic organisms. Thus, trees in the beds of small rivers can b
