BOREAL PINE FORESTS OF EROSION-DENUDATION PLAIN WITHIN THE PENZA REGION
Background . Boreal pine forests are quite rare in the region. In the landscapes of erosion-denudation plains, they are noted only within the outlier-watershed terrain type. The purpose of this work is to publish data on the current state and confinement of erosion-denudation plains within the Penza region to the relief elements of boreal pine forests. Materials and methods . The collection of material was carried out on test areas measuring 100 m2. In total, more than 90 descriptions were made. The vegetation was classified according to the dominant principle, taking into account coenotic groups of species. To assess the main environmental parameters, the obtained descriptions were processed according to the environmental scales of D. N. Tsyganov. Results . A distinctive feature of boreal pine forests of erosion-denudation plains is the high participation in the soil cover of boreal shrubs and evergreen herbaceous plants, a low abundance of green mosses and participation with high constancy (in 70 descriptions of 91) and a small abundance (0,5-10 %) of Convallaria majalis - nemoral species, as well as meadow and steppe ECG species. According to the ecological characteristics, Pineta boreo-herbosa are the most moistened (from wet-meadow and wet-meadow), acidic and poor in generalized salt regime and nitrogen rich soil, relatively stable moisture. The following associations of Pinetum equiseto-moliniosum , Pinetum moliniosum , Pinetum myrtillosum , Pinetum calamagrostidoso arundinacii-myrtillosum , Pinetum herbosum form a group of boreal pine forests. Conclusions . Boreal pine forests are noted only within the outlier-watershed terrain type. They are changed by economic activities: felling, grazing, and also quite frequent fires. Ground cover dominants are Molinia caerulea , Vaccinium myrtillus , Calamagrostis arundinacea , Equisetum sylvaticum . A distinctive feature of boreal pine forests of erosion-denudation plains is the high participation in the soil cover of boreal shrubs and evergreen herbaceous plants, the low abundance of green mosses and the participation of Convallaria majalis , a non-moral species, as well as meadow and steppe ECG species.