Vegetation of Salavat town (Baschkortostan Republic). VI. Native forest vegetation
Authors: Golovanov Ya. M. , Shyrokikh P. S. , Abramova L. M. 
Published: February 2020

The studies of natural forest vegetation of Salavat town were made during 2008–2011. 31 relevés of forest communities within the natural boundaries of phytocenoses were done. Vegetation of Salavat town includes ruderal, grass (meadow, steppe, helophyte and water vegetation) and forest vegetation. Water, helophyte, synanthropic, natural and semi-natural grass vegetation of the town was discussed in previous articles (Golovanov et al, 2011 and others). This article is devoted to the syntaxonomy of natural forest vegetation of Salavat town.

Syntaxonomy of natural forest vegetation of Salavat town includes 3 classes (Querco-Fagetea Br.-Bl. et Vlieger in Vlieger 1937, Salicetea purpureae Moor in 1958 and Alnetea glutinosae Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex. Westhoff et al., 1943), 3 orders (Fagetalia sylvaticae Pawłowski, Sokołowski et Wallisch 1928, Salicetalia purpureae Moor in 1958 and Salicetalia auritae Doing 1962), 4 alliances (Alnion incanae Pawłowski, Sokołowski et Wallisch 1928, Salicion albae Soó 1930, Salicion triandrae T. Müller et Görs 1958, Salicion cinereae T. Müller et Görs ex Passarge 1961), 4 associations (Alnetum incanae Lüdi 1921, Salici-Populetum (R. Tx. 1931 ) Meijer Drees 1936, Salicetum triandro-viminalis Lohmeyer 1952, Salicetum pentandra-cinereae Passarge 1961) and 5 variants (ass. Alnetum incanae — variant Galium aparine; ass. Salici-Populetum — variants Carex acuta, Bromopsis inermis, Carex praecox and Acer negundo).

Plant communities of the class Querco-Fagetea combine the broadleaf and coniferous-deciduous mesophytic forests of the temperate zone of the western Palearctic (Ermakov, 2012). One variant Galium aparine of ass. Alnetum incanae was registered in Salavat town. This variant of the association was described from the urban areas. The presence of synanthropic species such as Acer negundo, Arctium lappa, Arctium tomentosum, Artemisia vulgaris, Chelidonium majus, Convolvulus arvensis, Galium aparine, Geum urbanum, Leonurus quinquelobatus and etc. is very typical. Plant associations represent forests with Padus avium, which are often found in the floodplain of the river Belaya on the rich short-time flooded soils.

The class Salicetea purpureae includes both riverine floodplain forest and shrub communities (Yamalov et al., 2012). 2 associations (Salici-Populetum and Salicetum pentandra-cinereae) and 4 variants (Carex acuta, Bromopsis inermis, Carex praecox and Acer negundo) were distinguished. The plant communities of associations Salici-Populetum and Salicetum triandro-viminalis represent the floodplain willow-poplar forests and shrubby vegetation, which are commonly found in the Republic of Bashkortostan on the river banks and lakeshores. Typically the communities are found on the banks of the river Belaya within the town of Salavat (Khaziakhmetov et al., 1989). A distinctive feature of the communities is a presence of the North American invasive neophyte species Acer negundo. Naturalization of this species takes place on the floodplains of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The similar community was recorded in Bryansk region (Bulokhov, Kharin, 2008) and they were described as the association Aceri negundi–Salicetum albae Bulokhov et Charin 2008. Our communities are different due to the dominance of Populus nigra with insignificant role of Salix alba. Further data collection can help to describe the new unit of the ecology-floristic classification.

The plant communities of the class Alnetea glutinosae combine the lowland eutrophic black alder swamps, birch swamp forests and thickets of willow shrubs on peaty soils (Ermakov, 2012). The association Salicetum pentandra-cinereae was described. The association represents of hygrophyte and mesohygrophyte communities with dominance of grey willow. These communities are found on the banks of fens and oxbows in abundant moisture conditions. They are rarely found on fen mires in Salavat town.