Assessment, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Biodiversity

Assessment and Monitoring
The maximum species diversity corresponds to the oxalis, the most optimal forest type group as to the
conditions of growth, the minimal species diversity corresponds to the lichen forest type group. However, on
the whole, the test areas number distribution according to the gradation of species diversity is well described
by a standard curve of normal distribution. On the whole, species diversity of Karelian Isthmus vegetation
cover is not relatively rich, it numbers from 21 to 50 species in 70% cases which is characteristic of the
southern taiga territory.
The calculated Simpson indexes for every forest phytocenosis level and for the whole community on average
repeat the dependencies obtained for the indicator of species diversity.
As a result of the performed calculations, statistically reliable dependencies of spatial distribution of species
diversity indicator on the territory under investigation were obtained. The prognoses of the species diversity
value for those points on the investigated territory, for which the experimental data is lacking, is possible with
the help of the equation obtained as a result of the calculations. The addition of a number of variables
explaining the species diversity, such as prevailing breed and type of forest, can increase the reliability of the
prognoses.
-diversity
Beta-diversity characterises the richness of the number of species in the vegetation cover of elementary forest
ecosystems classified according to prevalent ecological factors and gradients. Statistics obtained as a result of
field observations allows evaluating beta-diversity indicator for each forest ecosystem belonging to different
forest type groups, as basic units (Fig. 1).
Development of quantitative standards of forest ecosystems’ vegetative diversity
The results of the analyses conducted during the project show that the most important factor influencing
species diversity is a combination of ecological factors, which can be defined under a system of forest type
groups exerting the greatest influence on forest cover species diversity. Average values of species diversity, as
shown on the Figure 1, strongly differ according to forest type group. Besides, it turns out that the distribution
of control points inside each forest type group based on species diversity is described by a curve of normal
distribution, i.e. the number of control points having a species diversity bigger or less than the average value
diminishes quickly along the normal curve.
y = 10/((2*)^0.5*)*exp(-(x-xcp.)/2*^2).
y – apportionment (number) of ecosystems belonging to a given forest type group with species diversity
equal to x ,
xcp.– average species diversity of a forest type group – standard of biodiversity,
– average quadratic declination.
As a result of this, an opportunity appears to calculate and determine quantitative standards of vegetative
diversity according to forest type groups, and use them for evaluation of forest ecosystems. Test areas
distribution according to species diversity for the bilberry forest type group is shown on the Fig. 2.
According to the results of work thematic maps of Karelian Isthmus were drawn.
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