COARSE WOODY DEBRIS STOCK IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS ON LATITUDINAL GRADIENT OF CENTRAL SIBERIA

The objective of this study was to estimate stock of coarse woody debris (CWD) in different natural zones presented in Central Siberia in order to investigate changes of this pool under the different climatic conditions, tree species biodiversity and disturbances. CWD stock was measured on sample plots situated in forest-tundra, in northern, middle and southern taiga zones of Central Siberia and in belt altitudinal complexes of mountain Scots pine, Siberian fir and larch forests in Southern Siberia. Average stock of CWD in forest ecosystems of forest-tundra and northern taiga is 3-5 times lower than in the middle and southern taiga zones of Central Siberia. The highest stock of CWD is a specificity of dark-coniferous forests. CWD stock in mountain-taiga Scots pine and Siberian fir forests of Southern Siberia are in the same range as variation of CWD stock in forests of middle and southern taiga of Central Siberia. Stock of CWD in mountain taiga larch forests is 3-6 times higher than CWD stock in northern taiga larch forests. Harvesting and fires in forest ecosystems can significantly change structure of CWD stock.