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Rare and unique communities in
the South of Western Siberia of the
Bolshaya Sogra natural complex
(Kislukhinsky state natural regional
reserve, the Altaisky Krai, Russia)
Marina M. Silantyevaa, Natalya V. Ovcharovaa, Ekaterina B.
Andreevaa & Alexandr A. Kuznetsovb
a Botany Department, Altai State University, Lenina st., 61,
Barnaul 656049, Russia
b Laboratory of Plant Structural and Molecular Analysis, Biological
Institute, Tomsk State University, Lenina av., 36, Tomsk 634050,
Russia
Published online: 09 Apr 2015.
To cite this article: Marina M. Silantyeva, Natalya V. Ovcharova, Ekaterina B. Andreeva &
Alexandr A. Kuznetsov (2015) Rare and unique communities in the South of Western Siberia
of the Bolshaya Sogra natural complex (Kislukhinsky state natural regional reserve, the
Altaisky Krai, Russia), International Journal of Environmental Studies, 72:3, 501-508, DOI:
10.1080/00207233.2015.1027593
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2015.1027593
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Rare and unique communities in the South of
Western Siberia of the Bolshaya Sogra natural
complex (Kislukhinsky state natural regional
reserve, the Altaisky Krai, Russia)
MARINA M. SILANTYEVA†*, NATALYA V. OVCHAROVA†,
EKATERINA B. ANDREEVA†AND ALEXANDR A. KUZNETSOV‡
†Botany Department, Altai State University, Lenina st., 61, Barnaul 656049, Russia; ‡Laboratory of
Plant Structural and Molecular Analysis, Biological Institute, Tomsk State University, Lenina av., 36,
Tomsk 634050, Russia
The paper presents floristic and geo-botanical characteristics of rare forest ecosystems of the south
of Western Siberia –spruce forests on the site of the Ob river ancient bed within the modern
Bolshaya Sogra within the boundaries of the state natural reserve ‘Kislukhinsky’(Altai region).
Spruce forests here are at the edge of their spread in the West Siberian Plain conditions. There are
over 300 species of vascular plants found in these spruce forests. Among them are plants that are
typical of the mountain taiga associations of Russian Altai, as well as orchids, which have high
species diversity. Spruce forest set of associations is also varied. The uniqueness of the described
communities to the south of Western Siberia, the large number of rare and endangered plant species
listed in the Red Books of different ranks, as well as the boreal forest species complex rare to the
lowland wooded steppe, which has a relict character, all served as the basis for allocating a special
protection area in the ‘Kislukhinsky’reserve and attributing the studied spruce forests to the forests
of high conservation value.
Keywords: Spruce communities, High conservation value forests
Introduction
In recent years it has become common in the Russian Federation to regard forests of high
conservation value (FHCV) as rare types of ecosystems, for natural historical reasons, or
because they have become rare as an effect of economic activity. They can also be rare
globally or only in a specific region (e.g. grow on the edge of their spread). Today there
are no universally accepted lists of rare ecosystems in Russia, only a few regional studies
based on knowledge of local experts. The most ambitious is ‘The Green Book of Siberia’
[1,2]. The globally understood FHCV are the territories included in the map of ecoregions
WWF Global 200 [3], i.e. 233 most valuable in conservation of biodiversity in ecoregions
of the world.
*Corresponding author. Email: msilan@mail.ru
© 2015 Taylor & Francis
International Journal of Environmental Studies, 2015
Vol. 72, No. 3, 501–508, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2015.1027593
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In Western Siberia, such rare ecosystems are certainly spruce forests. A number of
foreign researchers [4–8] have studied spruce forests, including the allocation of unique
communities.
Spruce forests in Western Siberia do not occupy large areas. Their share is from 6% of
the forested area in the north to 1% in the south of the West Siberian Plain. They are also
relatively small in number of types: lichenous spruce forest, green moss spruce forest,
equisetacious spruce forest, sphagnum spruce forest, herbal spruce forest and complex for-
est [9,10]. In the Altai region spruce forests are even more rare communities. They occupy
an area of 4.8 thousand ha, which is 0.5% of the State Forest Fund lands. They are situ-
ated in the midlands of Altai, mostly in Charyshsky forest range (2.1 thousand ha). About
0.5 thousand ha of spruce forests grow in the plains region in Ozerskoe forest range [11].
It is the biggest part of the forest range that has become part of the ‘Kislukhinsky’reserve.
Data about the spruce forest of Ozersky are extremely limited. The first and last charac-
teristic was given in 1930 and reported the presence of spruce (Picea obovata) and larch
(Larix sibirica) communities among peatlands on the islands. It was also noted that the
grass layer characteristics and a specific set of moss species are of the taiga type and differ
sharply from the range of species in the nearby pine forest [12].
The state natural complex reserve of regional importance ‘Kislukhinsky’, where we are
studying spruce, was established in 1976 to maintain the ecological balance of the right
bank of the Ob complexes, as well as conservation, restoration and reproduction of natural
resources. One of the goals of establishing the reserve was the need to protect natural com-
plexes of pine forest ecosystems and the broad floodplains of the Ob with the system of
forests, floodplains, oxbow lakes and creeks (figure 1).
Figure 1. Schematic map of the reserve location.
502 M.M. Silantyeva et al.
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According to geo-botanical zoning the territory of the reserve belongs to the right bank
of the Ob forest-steppe sub-province which lies in the West Siberian province Priobskoye
Borovoi district [13]. A part of Kislukhinsky reserve is situated within Sredneobsky forest.
Areas with relatively dry pine forest here interchange with swamp-subor (wetland aspen-
birch, willow-birch and birch-spruce forests). Another part of the reserve occupies the Ob
floodplain with its extensive water meadows, poplar and willow forests, marshes, and reed
floodplains.
‘Kislukhinsky’reserve spruce communities are mostly assigned to the Bolshaya Sogra
and have been shaped on the islands of a former vast peat bog, where the sediment
capacity was up to 20 m [12]. Spruce forests here are on the edge of their spread in the
conditions of the West Siberian Plain.
The Bolshaya Sogra (Sogra Barsuchiha, Kislyansky peat) is located about 5 km north of
the river Ob. Stretching out almost parallel to the Ob floodplain for 16 km, it has three
branches: one in the direction of the Ob floodplain; another to the east; and a third to
Kokui pine-wood. The Bolshaya Sogra is separated from the Ob with a wide terrace, the
surface of which has a distinct dune character and is covered with pine forest; which
becomes mixed on the clearings. The relief of Kislyansky peat is pretty smooth, but in the
eastern part there is an elevation where the peat is at its least width. This particular eleva-
tion and others up to 1–1.5 m are called the ‘islands’. Within the Bolshaya Sogra there are
several lakes and the most famous island –the Monastyr [12].
The first person to suppose that the Bolshaya Sogra was once the Ob river bed was
Semenov [12]. He determined the age of this natural complex as the end of the Upper
Pleistocene (up to 20–25 thousand years ago). The Ob river at that time flowed in a
broader corridor and one of its branches reached the area now known as the Bolshaya
Sogra. As the river was retreating to the western bank (the current situation also), the east-
ern banks were shoaling, and a large island of river sand formed in the site of the modern
‘Nizky Bor’. Thus, this natural complex is of great scientific interest to paleogeography
and paleobotany, as it allows us to obtain information necessary for reconstruction of the
natural environment, the evolution of communities and ecosystems.
Methods
The study of spruce forests was conducted using the routing (route/geographical
exploration) method, and the identification of plants took place in the Geosphere-Biosphere
processes monitoring laboratory of Altai State University. Geo-botanical descriptions were
carried out according to the classical method.
The research conducted in 2013–2014 aimed to identify the floristic and coenotic diver-
sity of spruce forests. For rare and endangered plants species the location was determined
using a GPS-navigator (photo and coordinates). Later, maps of distribution of the ecologi-
cally most important plant species were built. We used the nomenclature of plants, adopted
in the ‘Siberian Flora’[14].
Results and discussion
The complete list of spruce forests flora species is more than 300. We found a number of
species which had not been found previously on plain areas of the Ob. Firstly, there was
Equisetum scirpoides –a horsetail typical for floodplain spruce forests of the Altai
Rare and unique communities in the South of Western Siberia 503
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Mountains, which previously had not been seen on the West Siberian Plain. The
researchers discovered an association in ‘Kislukhinsky’reserve, where this species was
dominant.
Such species as Circae alpina, Cardamine pratensis, Petasites frigidus, Viola canina,
Galium paniculatum, Poa remota, Carex alba, and Oxalis acetosella are also characteristic
of the mountain-taiga areas of Russian Altai and have not been found in the conditions of
the Upper Ob floodplain before.
Spruce communities have particular importance in terms of preserving representatives of
the family of orchids on the territory of the reserve. We found 10 species of Orchidaceae:
Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Epipactis helleborine, Platanthera bifolia,
Corallorhiza trifida, Cypripedium guttatum, Cypripedium macranthon, Cypripedium ven-
tricosum, Orchis militaris, Liparis loeselii. What is more, the last four species are listed in
the Red Books of the Russian Federation (2008) [15] and the Altai Territory (2006) [16],
and two species –C. trifida, C. guttatum –are marked in the regional Red Book. Spruce
forests and the neighbouring waterlogged willow-birch forests contain the largest popula-
tion currently known of C. macranthon for the Altai region, estimated to be thousands of
specimen.
The preliminary geo-botanical study showed a considerable variety of spruce forest,
spruce-larch-pine forest and larch-spruce forest associations. Several spruce forests
communities have been described: mesophytic sedge horsetail, waterlogged sedge and
waterlogged sedge-moss spruce forest with bulrush horsetail (E. scirpoides) and
birch-spruce-sedge forest. Let us give a full description of these communities.
Figure 2. Mesophytic sedge and horsetail spruce.
504 M.M. Silantyeva et al.
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Mesophytic sedge horsetail spruce forest
The tree species composition is 10E. The stand is single layered, with the first layer
formed by Siberian spruce (P. obovata) reaching up to 25–30 m (figure 2). Mesophytic
sedge and horsetail spruce.’The general age of the trees is 80 years with some being
150–200 years. The average diameter of spruce trunks is 40 cm; the maximum, 60 cm.
The shrub layer sometimes contains Siberian mountain ash (Sorbus sibirica), the average
height of which is120 cm, the age being 5–7 years. The projective cover degree of herba-
ceous layer does not exceed 40% with single layered herbage. The herbage incorporates
25 species of plants, most having a projective cover degree of about 1%. Only Carex
macroura has a projective cover degree of 10%, and E. scirpoides 5%. The sedge is some-
times represented by C. alba, the legumes by Galium palustre,Lathyrus vernus. The herbs
are mostly Pulmonaria mollis, Fragaria vesca, Viola selkirkii, Maianthemum bifolium,
Anthyrium filix-femina.
Waterlogged sedge spruce forest
The tree species composition is 8E2C. The forest is not thick, but very wet. The crown
density is 0.5. The covering is 60% with insignificant turf (figure 3).
The stand is two-layered. The first layer is formed by Scots pine up to 30 m in height.
The second layer (20–25 m) is Siberian spruce. The average age of pines is 70 years, the
average trunk diameter is 30 cm; the maximum, 40 cm. The average age of spruce is
80 years; the diameter, 40 cm; the maximum diameter, 60 cm. The undergrowth contains
occasional aspens (Populus tremula) up to 100 cm in height and up to 6–8 years in age.
Figure 3. Waterlogged sedge spruce forest.
Rare and unique communities in the South of Western Siberia 505
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The shrub layer consists of Viburnum opulus,Salix,Rosa majalis. The area here is
characterised by the presence of bumps up to 70 cm high and hollows between them.
Between the bumps there grow more hygrophilic species: Comarum palustre,Angelica
palustris, and others. Various species of mosses characterise this area: Dicranum
polysetum, Mnium stellare, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum.
The herbage is two-layered, up to 50 cm. The following dominants are detected here:
Carex vulpina,Carex cespitosa,Eguisetum palustre. A common gramineous plant is Poa
palustris. The herbs are represented by 17 species of flowering plants: Filipendula
ulmaria,Paris quadrifolia,Pyrola rotundifolia,Galium boreale,M. bifolium and others.
Areas of sedge horsetail spruce forest are combined with areas of waterlogged moss-
sedge spruce forest. There is a recurrence of Siberian spruce with a height of 100–150 cm
and age of 10–15 years.
Waterlogged moss-sedge spruce forest with bulrush horsetail (E. scirpoides)
The tree species composition is 9E1B. The forest is not thick, but very wet. The crown
density is 0.6. The covering is 60%, the turf is insignificant. The stand is formed by
Siberian spruce (P. obovata) 30 m in height. The average age of spruce is 80 years; the
diameter 40 cm; the maximum diameter 60 cm. In the undergrowth there are occasional
birches (Betula pendula), up to 100 cm high and 6–8 years in age. The shrub layer
consists of S. sibirica.
The herbage is single layered, up to 50 cm. The dominants are: E. scirpoides,Equisetum
hyemale,C. macroura. The species richness is low –about 20 species. There are single
representatives of P. frigidus,Athyrium fílix-femina,G. palustre,C. pratensis. There are
also the following kinds of mosses: S. squarrosum,D. polysetum,M. stellare.
Birch-spruce-sedge forest
The formula of the stand is 8E2B. The tree stand is two-layered, the first layer is formed
by Siberian spruce (P. obovata), 30 m in height. The second layer (15–20 m) is fluffy birch
(Betula pubescens). The average spruce age is 70 years. The average trunk diameter is
25 cm; the maximum 35 cm. The average age of birch is 40 years; the diameter 17 cm;
the maximum diameter 25 cm. The crown density varies from 0.5 to 0.7 (figure 4).
In the undergrowth there is B. pubescens, with occasional Ribes nigrum,V. opulus,R.
majalis. The projective cover degree of the herbaceous layer is 70%. There are two
sublayers. The first sublayer is 60 cm high and is formed by C. macroura,C. cespitosa,
Angelica decurens,F. ulmaria. The second sublayer (20–30 cm) is formed by Ranunculus
auricomus,Galium uliginosum,Moehringia lateriflora,Caltha palustris,Epilobium
palustre.
There are single representatives of Humulus lupulus,M. bifolium,Thelypteris palustris,
Sium latifolium. The following mosses are found here: S. squarrosum,D. polysetum. The
species richness per 100 m
2
is up to 30 species.
In the areas where spruce communities are changed by waterlogged birch forests there
are also large populations of regionally protected plant species: Menyanthes trifoliata,
Calla palustris.
506 M.M. Silantyeva et al.
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Conclusions
The uniqueness of the described communities to the south of Western Siberia, and the
large number of rare and endangered plant species listed in the Red Books of different
ranks, as well as boreal forest complex species rare for lowland forest-steppe, which has a
relict character, have become the reasons for allocating a special protection area in the
‘Kislukhinsky’reserve. Forest ecosystems formed by or with the participation of Siberian
spruce in the forest-steppe natural area of the south of Western Siberia should be classified
as FHCV. Allocation of special protection area status is necessary to bring the protection
regime of the reserve in accordance with its goals and objectives, as well as with the
operational environmental and forest legislation. In this zone there is a ban on any kind of
forest stand cuttings, with the exception of selective sanitary cuttings. This measure, in our
opinion, will actually help to preserve the unique and relict spruce communities of the
Bolshaya Sogra.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude for the help in organizing their work to the ‘Kislukhinsky’
reserve state natural complex keeper Sergei Baydukov, and Nadezhda Kurepina, PhD,
researcher in the Institute for Water and Environmental Problems, SB RAS (Barnaul), for
assistance in preparing cartographic material.
Figure 4. Birch-spruce-sedge forest.
Rare and unique communities in the South of Western Siberia 507
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Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding
The research has been supported by the grant issued in accordance with Resolution of the Government of the
Russian Federation No 220 dated 9 April 2010, under [agreement number 14.B25.31.0001] with Ministry of
Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated 24 June 2013 (BIO-GEO-CLIM). This study was
supported by the D.I. Mendeleev Scientific Fund Program of the Tomsk State University.
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