Species composition, occurrence, and abundance of undergrowth under the canopy of high-altitude maple forests in the North Caucasus

The article presents mass data on the species composition of undergrowth species growing under the canopy of high-altitude maple forests on the northern macroslopes of the Caucasus. The lower belt of high-altitude maple forests is located at an altitude of 800-1100 m. The highest point of the upper belt of maple forests is located at 2100 m above sea level in the Tsey tract in the Republic of North Ossetia. The forest stands consist of 90-99% of Acer trautvetteri Medw. In the younger generation, there are single species of elm, ash, and two species of maple. The undergrowth is represented by the following species: Euonymus verrucosa Scop., Frangula alnus Mill., Sorbus aucuparia L., Ribes biebersteinii Berl. ex DC, Rosa biebersteiniana Tratt. It has been shown that the number of undergrowth under the canopy of high-altitude maple forests does not exceed 600 specimens per hectare. More than 10 species of vascular plants have been identified in the living ground cover. The purpose of this study is to identify differences in the species composition of the undergrowth in maple forests across vertical zones.

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