Open AccessVegetation of the summit of the natural monument “Mount Beshtau” (Stavropol Krai, Russia)
Author(s) -
Zoya Dutova
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/607/1/012003
Subject(s) - steppe , montane ecology , vegetation (pathology) , geography , subalpine forest , natural (archaeology) , summit , ecology , mount , physical geography , archaeology , biology , medicine , pathology , computer science , operating system
The characteristics of steppe meadows with subalpine elements of the top of the natural monument “Mount Beshtau” are given with a list of measures for their protection. The Mount Beshtau is the highest of the laccolithic mountains of the Caucasian Mineral Waters (the Central Caucasus). The mountain broad-leaved forests, meadow steppes, steppes and steppe meadows with subalpine elements, characterized by a pronounced altitudinal zonation, are the main types of vegetation in the region. Five vegetation formations were identified on the top of the mountain, based on the ecological-phytocenotic approach. Calamagrosteta arundinaceae and Brachypodieta pinnati formations were considered to belong to steppe meadows with subalpine elements. These plant communities require a compliance with nature conservation measures determined by the status of a natural monument, and this may be named as an ultimate condition for their conservation. In this regard, it seems necessary to increase the environmental awareness, as well as to ban totally the access with quad bikes and uncontrolled visiting the top of the mountain.