Integrated vegetation map of biotopes in the southern part of the Chechen Republic (using modeling)
Authors: Aristarkhova E. A. , Kotlov I. P. , Iriskhanova Z. I. , Arsanukaev D. D. , Yachmennikova A. A. , Rozhnov V. V. 
Published: February 2025

An assessment of the spatial organization of foothill, mountain and intrazonal biotopes was carried out as a result of mountainous vegetation survey in southern part of the Chechen Republic. The area under study is located at 115–2550 m above sea level, within seven districts of the region. It covers an area of 7.3 thousand km2. The vegetation map was created using the field geobotanical descriptions of 2023–2024 and modeling methods. Map subdivisions made it possible to identify 12 biotope categories as suitable for habitats and dispersal of leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica).

Sentinel-2 multispectral images were used for cartographic modeling. The images obtained from 2015 to 2024 were used. 21 spectral indices were calculated for each of 6 mosaics (NDVI, TNDVI, RVI, SAVI, TSAVI, MSAVI, MSAVI2, GEMI, IPVI, NDWI, NDWI2, MNDWI, NDTI, RI, CI, etc.). 192 spectral layers were allocated for processing (Index database [website]). 4 algorithms of GIS modeling methods were applied for cartographic modelling: 1) decision trees, 2) random forest, 3) coefficient (k) of the nearest neighbors, 4) support vector machine method. Evaluation of the algorithm’s quality of the general convergence of the algorithm was carried out based on the convergence matrix. The resulting maps were offered to five experts for evaluation. The binary scores assigned to each map were summed and used as a “weight” in preparing the final integrated map of biotope categories. All operations are performed in Orfeo Toolbox 7.4.0 (Grizonnet et al., 2017).

The integrated vegetation map has been made based on the ecological-phytocoenotic classification, which reveals the modern vegetation cover of this region. The expanded map legend has been compiled, reflecting the composition of foothill and mountain vegetation communities. During the simulation, 12 categories of biotopes were identified, which are diagnosed by the corresponding groups of formations within three vegetation types.

I. Forests: 1.1 — coniferous pine and mixed with pine forests, 1.2 — broad-leaved forests, 1.3 — small-leaved–broad-leaved forests, 1.4 — broad-leaved–small-leaved forests, 1.5 — small-leaved forests, 1.6 — small-leaved girder forests and thickets;

II. Woodlands and shrubs of the shiblyak type: 2.1 — shiblyak-type open woodlands and shrublands with wild fruit species, 2.2 —xerophytic shrubs in meadows and rocky placers;

III. Meadows: 3.1 — alpine meadows, 3.2 — subalpine meadows, 3.3 — floodplain meadows, 3.4 — seeded meadows and overgrown fields.

The research results have already found practical application — in the mountainous part of the Chechen Republic, a matrix of 20 automatic cameras was installed in the most suitable areas identified during the survey, designed for all-season monitoring of animals (large mammals) as a part of animal population monitoring. The presented data were also used for primary modeling and assessment of leopard habitats suitability, implemented in GIS. The data pool on biotope descriptions was used in conjunction with data on animal species included in the predator’s food web and competing species (Hernandez-Blanco et al., 2024).

The compiled vegetation map will become the basis for analyzing the possibilities of restoring the leopard population in the Chechen Republic as a part of project aimed to reintroduce these large felines. This research helps to expand and supplement the data on vegetation cover and faunal complex of the inaccessible southern territories of the Russian Caucasus.