Plant potential and ecological and economic suitability of reindeer pastures on the right bank of the Norilsk River

Purpose: identification of plant potential, ecological and economic suitability of deer pastures of the forest-tundra zone located in the zone of anthropogenic influence

Material and methods. Ground geobotanical survey of the vegetation cover of deer pastures was carried out by route method in accordance with the method of geobotanical studies. The ecological and economic value of each type of pasture was determined based on the data of the ecological and economic classification of deer pastures in the north.

Results. 25 species of reindeer pastures are described on the right bank of the Norilsk River in the northwestern part of the Putorana Plateau. On the basis of signs of uniformity in the structure of vegetation (proximity of species composition, similarity of vertical and horizontal structures), they are combined into 4 types: tundra, swamps, shrubs and light forests. Tundra (30.9%) and shrub (27.6%) types of pastures dominate. The most important feature is the active participation in the structure of phytocenoses of shrubs (Betula nana s. str, Salix glauca s. str, S. lanata s. str.) and shrubs (Ledum palustre. Vaccinium uliginosum s. str, V. vitis-idaea s. str.). Green fodder is most nutritious in the first half of summer. The nutritional value of fruticose lichens does not change during the year. Reindeer pastures with lichen cover and high (from 5 to 12 o-days/ha) reindeer capacity during the snowy period occupy insignificant (24.3%) areas. Basically, these are willow and dwarf dwarf shrub-lichen tundras and larch sparse forests of dwarf-shrub moss-lichen. The participation of lichens in the ground cover of plant communities does not exceed 25–35%. The following lichen species have been recorded: Cladonia arbuscula, C. stellaris, C. rangiferina, C. cornuta, C. deformis, C. mitis, Cetraria cucullata, and C. islandica. The most widespread species of the genus Cetraria: Cetraria islandica and C. cucullata, with a clear advantage of the latter. The main forage species of the genus Cladonia (Cladonia arbuscula, C. stellaris, C. rangiferina) are not widely distributed. Pastures with a high (from 9 o-days/ha to 14 o-days/ha) reindeer capacity in the summer, early autumn and late spring periods prevail in the study area. Basically, these are communities of shrub and marsh types. Shrubs (Salix glauca s. str, S. lanata s. str., S. hastata, Betula nana s. str.), shrubs (Salix reticulata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea s. str.) and forbs (species of the genera Petasites, Pedicularis, Astragalus, Hedysarum, Equisetum, Bistorta).

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