SITES WITH INCREASED PHYTODIVERSITY IN THE FIRE-BURNED PART OF THE KERZHENSKY NATURE RESERVE: SIGNIFICANCE, ORIGIN, MAPPING

The position of the Nizhny Novgorod Trans-Volga region in vegetation zoning schemes has long been a subject of discussion, which is due to the peculiarities of its landscape structure and long-term anthropogenic impact. This study examines the role of areas of increased phytodiversity in the post-fire part of the Kerzhensky Nature Reserve as an important component of the communities’ recovery after fires, an also deals with their spatial structure and floristic composition. A combination of field observations (geobotanical descriptions, soil profiles) and cartographic materials were used as the main research methods. We have found that the studied complex of communities was formed along an ancient long hollow, within which, due to the peculiarities of the landscape structure, was formed environment with an increased content of trace elements in soils and a greater accumulation of snow, which determined the development of rich linden-pine forests. They reflect the zonal features of the vegetation in the sandy Trans-Volga region; their preservation and further study are necessary to understand the formation processes of the vegetation cover and landscapes of this territory.