Dynamics of floristic composition and boundaries of the altitude zones within mountain massifs of the Kola Peninsula under the anthropogenic impact

Long-term anthropogenic pressure and current climatic trends have led to significant changes in the structure and species composition of the vegetation cover of ecosystems in many regions of Russia. As an impact indicator vegetation clearly reflects the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystems, especially in theareas experiencing long-term intensive technogenic stress. An example is the Monchegorsk district in the central part of the Kola Peninsula. According to V.V. Kryuchkov’s classification, this region belongs to the zones of complete and partial disturbance of ecosystems. The aim of the study is to assess changes in the structure of vegetation cover and the dynamics of the boundaries of altitude zones in the Monchetundra mountain range, which experiences the technogenic impact of the Severonikel plant (Monchegorsk), under the modern climate change. The literature data and space imagery were used to reconstruct the structure of altitudinal zonality in the Monchetundra mountain range before the industrial development of the region. To study the current state and dynamics of ecosystems, the model territories were selected that are most contrasting in the exposure of slopes, determining the distribution of pollutants. A comparison of the structure of altitudinal zonality before the industrial development of the region with the current state made it possible to assess the general trend in the dynamics of the boundaries of altitudinal zones and determine main changes in the vegetation cover of the studied region during the period of industrial development. General improvement of the ecological situation in the region and the current climate changes have led to positive processes and partial restoration of vegetation cover within the degraded territories. However, under the extreme natural conditions this process is slow, although the identified trends in combination with measures taken by the Severonikel plant to introduce new technologies to reduce emissions of pollutants allow us to predict an improvement of the situation. Complex assessment of the state of vegetation cover of ecosystems based on the use of ground-based and remote sensing data made it possible to most accurately describe the current state, as well as the changes in the structure of plant communities.

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