Above-ground detritus characteristics in connection with vegetation in conditions of Сhashnikovo Ecological Center Ecosystems

The features of vegetation and terrestrial detritus within the boundaries of the Chashnikovo UOPEC in the upper reaches of the Klyazma River have been studied, theses ecosystems corresponding with coniferous-deciduous forests conditions. Based on the ecological scales of L.G. Ramensky and E. Landolt, as well as the ecological-cenotic classification of A.A. Nitsenko, a grouping of terrestrial ecosystems differing in trophic and humidification levels was obtained by the method of main components. Within the studied territory, based on the ecological and cenotic structure of living ground cover, three groups of phytocenoses were identified — moderately wet forest phytocenoses with a predominance of spruce, wet forests with a predominance of small–leaved species, as well as phytocenoses of dryland and floodplain meadows. For all sampling points, the classification and stocks of litter, as well as their spatial distribution within the phytocenosis, were assessed. The studied ecosystems vary significantly in litter stocks from high values in the tree trunk spaces of spruce forests – about 5 kgm-2 – to extremely low values – less than 0.5 kgm-2 — in upland and floodplain meadows, which determines the high heterogeneity of potential carbon accumulation within the territory. The typological affiliation of litter is interconnected with stocks only at the biogeocenotic level in relation to spruce forests, but this pattern does not work at a higher level when considering ecosystems at the landscape level.