2025 Ecosystem Transformation 8 (1), 82-107

Anthropogenic transformation of phytocenoses in the Nalchik River valley (Kabardino-Balkaria)

Tsepkova N.L.  , Abramova L.M.  , Chadaeva V.A., Stepanyan E.I.

The article presents the results of long-term studies of the dynamics of plant communities in the Nalchik River valley influenced by various anthropogenic factors. Four associations and three communities of different successional status have been identified. The class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea R. Tx. 1937 includes the association Centaureo kubanicae-Cynodontetum dactyli ass. nov. prov., which characterizes a pasture digression of meadow vegetation in the study area and corresponds to the stage of secondary pasture dominants, as well as the community Aegilops cylindrica, which reflects the late stage of a recreational digression. The association Sisymbrietum loeselii Gutte 1972, the variant Ambrosia artemisiifolia (the class Sisymbrietea Gutte et Hilbig 1975) represents the initial stage of vegetation restoration, whereas the association Melilotetum albi-officinalis Sissingh 1950 (the order Artemisietalia vulgaris Lohmeyerin R. Tx. 1947, the class Artemisietea vulgaris Lohmeyer et al. in Tx. ex von Rochow 1951) – the middle stage of a restorative succession. The association Convolvulo arvensis-Elytrigietum repentis Görs 1966, as well as the community Urtica dioica [Artemisietea vulgaris] and the community Cichorium intybus [Artemisietea vulgaris] within the order Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis T. Müller et Görs 1969 of the class Artemisietea vulgaris correspond to the late succession stage. Further restoration of vegetation in the absence of anthropogenic
disturbances and climatic anomalies would naturally lead to the emergence of the communities of native
meadow vegetation in the study area. It was revealed that vegetation transformation caused by technogenic impacts occurred in two stages. At first, the natural meadow vegetation was buried under a layer of solid waste, followed by backfilling with soil that gave rise to ruderal communities, which almost disappeared during the second stage distinguished by intensive construction works in this area. To improve the environment of the study area, landscaping of house territories is recommended.

N. L. Tsepkova
A.K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences
I. Armand St. 37 a, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, 360051 Russia

cenelli@yandex.ru

L. M. Abramova
South-Ural Botanical Garden-Institute
ul. Mendeleeva 195-3, Ufa, 450080 Russia

abramova.lm@mail.ru

V. A. Chadaeva
A.K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences
I. Armand St. 37 a, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, 360051 Russia


E. I. Stepanyan
A.K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences
I. Armand St. 37 a, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, 360051 Russia

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