Reconstruction of the evolution of the vegetation cover and the frequency of forest fires of the Sebezh Poozerie

  • Dmitry A. Kupriyanov Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia; Institute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 19 Dmitriia Ulianova Street, Moscow 117292, Russia
  • Natalia M. Pisarchuk Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Anton E. Shatunov Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
  • Ksenia А. Borodina Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33581/2521-6740-2023-1-71-82

Abstract

The results of the study of sediments of the new section of the Shkredy Bog in the key area within the National Park «Sebezhsky» are presented. This key area represents typical geosystems for the Sebezh Poozerie. The evolution of the vegetation cover and the frequency of forest fires in the Sebezh Poozerie, as well as the factors that caused changes in the vegetation cover and fire regimes within the key area, were reconstructed. Similar studies have not been conducted for the studied area before. The reconstruction is based on the data of analysing the physico-chemical properties of bog sediments (loss on ignition and humification analysis, spore-pollen and anthracological analysis, botanical analysis of peat). The relatively small size of the bog chosen for the study is due to the indicator ability of small bogs to reflect local changes in vegetation cover due to the accumulation of pollen and macroscopic charcoal particles from the territory with a radius of 1.5–2.5 km from the edge of the bog. Based on the changes in the composition of the pollen spectra, eight pollen zones were identified, united into three phases of vegetation development. This phases are correlated with the results of the analysis of macrocharcoal particles, loss on ignition, optical density, and are also supported by cluster analysis. The identified phases of vegetation cover evolution are correlated with changes in forest fire activity. Phase I is characterised by the predominance of coniferous-broadleaf forests with significant birch participation and frequent forest fires caused primarily by warm and dry climatic conditions. Phase II is characterised by the spread of coniferous-broadleaf forests with significant participation of thermophilic species with minimal the impact of the pyrogenic factor in a wetter climate. Phase III is characterised by the dominance of birch-pine forests and the active development of waterlogging processes with the significant participation of forest fires. The transformation of vegetation cover in phase III is caused by both climatic causes and anthropogenic impact, and forest fires had a mixed genesis in the conditions of the beginning of the active transformation of the natural environment by human impact.

Author Biographies

Dmitry A. Kupriyanov, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia; Institute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 19 Dmitriia Ulianova Street, Moscow 117292, Russia

engineer at the department of physical geography and landscape studies, faculty of geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and junior researcher at the laboratory of contextual anthropology, Institute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences

Natalia M. Pisarchuk, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

senior lecturer at the department of physical geography of the world and educational technologies, faculty of geography and geoinformatics

Anton E. Shatunov, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia

master’s degree student at the department of physical geography and landscape studies, faculty of geography

Ksenia А. Borodina, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia

master’s degree student at the department of physical geography and landscape studies, faculty of geography

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Published
2023-05-20
Keywords: spore-pollen analysis, anthropological analysis, peat humification, loss of ignition, peat bogs, climate change, vegetation history, forest fires
Supporting Agencies The reported study was funded by Russian Foundation for Basic Research within the framework of the project 20-55-04003 and Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research within the framework of the project Х21PM-043.
How to Cite
Kupriyanov, D. A., Pisarchuk, N. M., Shatunov, A. E., & BorodinaK. А. (2023). Reconstruction of the evolution of the vegetation cover and the frequency of forest fires of the Sebezh Poozerie. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Geography and Geology, 1, 71-82. https://doi.org/10.33581/2521-6740-2023-1-71-82
Issue
No 1 (2023): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Geography and Geology
Section
Geography

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