Factors influencing the placement of plants and animals. General patterns of distribution of vegetation cover on the territory of the Russian Federation

Distribution of vegetation on the territory of Russia. Vegetation is one of the most important components of nature. It determines the general appearance of the territory and plays a big role in the life of nature and humans. Vegetation protects the surface from destruction by external processes and affects surface and ground waters. Without plants, soil formation, animal life, and even human existence are impossible. Human food and the composition of the air that he breathes are, to a large extent, the result of the vital activity of plants. Plants do not exist on the surface in isolation, but in the form of regular combinations of many plants - plant communities, which together form the vegetation cover of the territory. The composition of plants and the appearance of the flora of any territory is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture at different periods of the year. Therefore, we see various combinations of plant communities on the territory of the country: tundra and forests, steppes and deserts, meadows and swamps.

The distribution of vegetation throughout the territory is influenced by the topography and composition of surface sediments, soil characteristics, the depth of groundwater, human activity and other factors. But climate has a decisive influence, therefore, zonation is clearly visible in the vegetation cover of the plains, and altitudinal zonation in the mountains is associated with changes in climatic conditions with altitude. The dominant plant communities of the main natural zones are zonal vegetation types. An idea of the distribution of vegetation across the territory of our country can be obtained using a vegetation map.

Main types of vegetation.

Tundra vegetation forms when there is little heat. This determines its main features: treelessness, spotting (mosaic), predominance of mosses and lichens, shrubs and partly shrubs, short stature and dominance of perennials. Tundra plants have adapted to the short, cool growing season. Annuals are practically absent due to the fact that plants do not have enough time or sufficient heat to complete the full development cycle in one year. Characteristic representatives tundra are: lichen moss (“reindeer moss”), green mosses, lingonberry, crowberry, partridge grass, cassiopeia, dwarf birch, polar willows, polar poppy, arctic bluegrass, etc. Forests occupy more than 40% of the area of our country. They are common where average monthly temperatures in July exceed +10°C, and there is sufficient and excessive moisture. Forests evaporate (transform) a lot of moisture, so in areas with insufficient and poor moisture they can only exist with additional moisture from groundwater (floodplains) or permafrost thawing (Central Yakutia). Tree species are very different in their requirements for heat, light and moisture. Excessive moisture, harsh winters and cool summers are better tolerated by conifers. Leaves turned into needles (needles) evaporate less moisture, so coniferous trees can grow at lower temperatures. Coniferous forests occupy about 80% of the forest area in Russia. The most cold-resistant of the conifers is larch. It is the only one of all conifers that sheds its needles for the winter and thereby reduces evaporation, protecting itself from freezing. The distribution of larch is clearly related to the sharply continental climate. Broad-leaved forests grow in mild winters and humid and fairly long summers. Excessive moisture, as well as insufficient moisture, limits the spread of broad-leaved species. The increasing severity of winters prevents their penetration beyond the Urals. These are the richest in the number of species and complex in structure (multi-tiered) forests. Steppes are common in areas of insufficient and unstable moisture and are represented by communities of herbaceous plants that tolerate a lack of moisture in the soil. Typical steppe plants are turf grasses with narrow leaves: different types feather grass, fescue, thin-legged. Along with them, forbs are always present in steppe communities.

Where the moisture coefficient is close to unity, colorful herbs predominate, and many brightly flowering meadow plants are found. The appearance of such steppes indicates relatively favorable moisture conditions. These are meadow, or mixed-grass, steppes. They are common in the forest-steppe zone. With increasing dryness, meadow forbs are replaced by species adapted to the lack of moisture - dry-loving forbs (thyme, romantic, some types of wormwood, etc.). Many of them are grayish, inconspicuous plants with finely dissected leaves, with drooping or waxy coating, and with inconspicuous, dim flowers. Species diversity is becoming less and less, and the vegetation cover is thinning out. Deserts occupy areas that are least favorable for the existence of plants, so the vegetation cover is extremely sparse. Due to poor moisture, desert plants are characterized by extreme drought resistance. They have a number of devices that allow them to extract moisture and use it economically. Desert plants are dominated by various types wormwood and solyanka. Tundra, forest, steppe and desert communities are determined by the climatic conditions of the main natural zones of Russia. Along with them, meadows and swamps are also found in all zones. Their existence depends on the local characteristics of moisture in individual areas (close occurrence of groundwater, periodic flooding, etc.). Meadows are communities of herbaceous plants that develop under average moisture conditions. They do not tolerate either severe drying out of the soil or constant waterlogging. Meadows are found in all natural areas and in the mountains. Almost all meadow plants are perennials. In autumn, their above-ground parts die off, and in spring new shoots appear. Meadows are characterized by a large density of grass and dense turf formed by densely intertwined plant roots. Swamps are communities of moisture-loving vegetation located on excessively moist land areas. Typically, swamps are confined to relief depressions, but with large amounts of precipitation they can also occupy watersheds. Therefore, swamps are especially widespread in forest and tundra zones. To the south their areas are sharply reduced. The forest zone of Western Siberia is characterized by exceptional swampiness. The plant communities of bogs include mosses, shrubs, herbaceous plants and even trees (pine, birch).

Plant resources. The plant world provides humans with food products, feed, and raw materials.

Forest resources. are a variety of forest resources used in national economy. The main product of the forest is wood. But forests provide more than just timber. In the forests, medicinal raw materials, wild fruit and berry plants, and mushrooms are harvested. Pine nuts, lingonberries and blueberries, black and red currants, raspberries and strawberries are an incomplete list of the gifts of nature that the forest supplies humans with. But forest resources are far from being fully utilized. Feed resources are available in various natural areas. The most productive forage areas are meadows. Lush meadow grasses are the main feed for cattle. Meadows serve as hayfields and pastures. The highest yields of grass are produced by floodplain meadows. They are used as hayfields. In the arid regions of the country, feed resources are represented by roughage (dry, hard) feed. In semi-deserts and deserts

There are pastures for sheep and camels. With sparse vegetation cover, animals have to constantly move in search of food. Sheep and camels eat young shoots of bushes, wormwood and solyanka, and herbaceous plants. There are extensive reindeer pastures in the tundra and forest-tundra. One of the most important forage plants here is reindeer moss.

I spent every summer of my childhood at the dacha, in a fairly secluded place, and my mother or grandmother often told me what flowers grew in this area. They went to the forest to pick mushrooms, and to the swamps to pick calamus for the holiday, and planted flower beds with asters, dahlias and other flowers.

How is vegetation distributed in our latitudes?

Given the temperate continental climate, our flora is very diverse and numerous. The many rivers, lakes and swamps allow moisture-loving plants to grow along the coastline, and the southern regions provide sufficient temperature for xerophytes, i.e. plants that prefer arid and dry climates.

On the other hand, many plants introduced into our territory often do not take root due to large differences in soil quality. For example, even within one area, some food plants may either produce a large yield or not germinate at all.

Distribution of vegetation on planet Earth

All life on the planet is subject to several laws of nature that characterize its distribution. These laws are:

The closer to the equator, the greater the species diversity.
With distance from the water source, the number of species, on the contrary, decreases.
The number of species often follows an arithmetic progression. Thus, the presence of insects allows many insectivorous birds to live, which, in turn, provide food for predators.
Human activities greatly influence species diversity. Uncontrolled hunting and deforestation have led to thousands and thousands of species facing the threat of extinction.

Vegetation today and tomorrow

Crossing species and advances in genetic engineering will sooner or later make it possible to identify new plant species that may replace today's more common ones. Now special emphasis is placed on forage crops, as well as cereals, however, it is possible that we will soon get new trees, flowers and herbs.

On the other hand, if we continue our negative activities regarding nature, we may pass the point of no return, due to which we will no longer be able to preserve any memory for our descendants in the form of living organisms. We must take care of our Planet, because it is our Home.

When grouping plants according to climatic regions, soil conditions are also taken into account to a certain extent. However, soils are often found various types in the same climatic region. In addition, within the same type of soil there may be soils that are more or less fertile, moist, saline, etc. Therefore, it is practically necessary to identify plants that react particularly sharply to certain soil conditions.

There is the following grouping of plants according to the influence of soil conditions on their development:

a) trees and shrubs that are not demanding on the degree of soil fertility: downy and paper birch, white acacia, downy oak, small-leaved elm, willow, field maple, fragrant and Moscow poplar, serviceberry, yellow acacia, hawthorn, oleaster, honeysuckle, meadowsweet and etc.;

b) trees and shrubs that require fertile soils: English and red oak, linden, black alder, plane tree, fir, white poplar, Canadian and Turkestan, hazel, hydrangea, lilac, western thuja, elderberry;

c) trees and shrubs growing on sandy soils: warty birch, purple and Caspian willow, ash-leaved, silver and Tatarian maple, pine, angustifolia and silver oleaster, white and Canadian poplar, golden currant, yellow acacia, meadowsweet, snowberry, etc. ;

d) trees and shrubs for saline soils: ailanthus, Caspian honey locust, downy sumac, comb, pomegranate, etc.;

e) trees and shrubs for wet soils: downy birch, poplar, willow, larch, magnolia, eucalyptus, bird cherry, black and red currant, etc.

35. The influence of the moisture factor on the selection and placement of plants. Give examples of plants with different habitats in different humidity levels.

Water - Natural sources of water: precipitation (rain, snow, fog, frost) and groundwater.

Water penetrates into plants through the soil and air. Optimal humidity air for woody plants 80% or more.

Ecological groups of woody plants in relation to water:

hygrophytes - plants of humid habitats, characterized by low osmotic pressure, intense transpiration, large leaves, superficial root system, the presence of aerial roots (riparian areas, damp meadows and forests) - black alder, willow

xerophytes - plants that can grow under conditions of constant or seasonal moisture deficiency, are distinguished by high osmotic pressure, a highly developed, deep root system, small leaf sizes until they are completely reduced, thick leaf epidermis, dense pubescence, a special structure of stomata, high water-holding capacity of leaves ( succulents), with a special seasonal rhythm of development (vegetate in the wet season) - saxaul, ephedra, juzgun, leafless gorse, cacti;

mesophytes – plants of moderately humid habitats (most woody plants) – pine, spruce, fir, aspen, beech.

36. The influence of temperature on the selection and placement of plants. What are the techniques for reducing the temperature factor when planning an area?

Temperature -is the most important environmental factor, which determines the life of plants, the distribution of species and the formation of plant types.

The optimal temperature for life is considered to be 15-30 o C

The increase in heat supply occurs naturally from the poles to the equator, as a result of which t-zoning exists on earth.

There are 4 main t-belts:

1) tropical

2) subtropical

3) moderate

4) cold

Vertical thermal zoning is also observed (in mountainous regions)

It is necessary to distinguish between 2 different characteristics of woody plants in relation to the plant:

1) thermophilicity - need for thermal energy

2) resistance to extreme temperatures (high - heat resistance, low - frost and cold resistance)

Classification of wood plants according to thermophilicity

According to thermophilicity:

1) very thermophilic – eucalyptus, cryptomeria, cork oak, cypress, cedar, sequoia, saxaul;

2) heat-loving– chestnut, oriental sycamore, downy oak, walnut, honey locust, hornbeam elm;

3) moderate heat requirements – pedunculate oak, hornbeam, Norway maple, ash;

4) low heat requirements – balsam poplar, gray alder, birch, rowan, Siberian spruce, Siberian fir, ob-ya pine.

37. The influence of the light factor on the selection and placement of plants. Name the characteristics of plants in different habitats in relation to light. Give examples.

One of the important conditions for the normal development of plants is sunlight, and some breeds require a lot of light, while others are content with less. This property allows plants to be divided into light-loving and shade-tolerant. In green construction, the light and shade tolerance of trees and shrubs are of great importance. The shade tolerance of plants must also be taken into account when placing various species in landscaped areas, so that the light-loving plant does not end up in the shade of other plants. Consequently, the choice of species for a particular object and their combination are significantly influenced by the attitude of plants to insolation.

Light-loving species are considered, for example, birch, oak, pear; ash, red and fan maples; larch, black alder, poplar; Scots and mountain pine; ash, willow, meadowsweet, comb.

Shade-tolerant trees and shrubs include: horse chestnut, hornbeam, field and Tatarian maple, spruce, linden, cypress, plane tree, fir, hawthorn, cotoneaster, honeysuckle, viburnum, western thuja.

38. The influence of relief on the selection and placement of plants, as well as on design methods. Techniques for creating dynamics in a composition.

Relief is assessed by the following indicators:

altitude

slope steepness

slope exposure

Relief does not directly affect plants, but has a strong influence on climatic factors (temperature, light and air circulation)

As you rise above sea level, the temperature decreases (for every 100 m of rise, the temperature drops by 0.5-0.7 ° C), the amount of precipitation increases, and the illumination and spectral composition of light changes.

The steepness of the slope affects the development of the root system and crown. The exposure of the slope affects the illumination, thermal and water regimes. Micro-highs in the soil - drying out, blowing off snow. Micro-lows - soaking, frost damage.

39. Artistic and architectural factors: point, emphasis, form. Give examples.

Accent - (Latin “emphasis”) – highlighting, emphasizing an element, serves to express greater expressiveness of the composition. Most often, an accent is highlighted by color, shape (usually small, otherwise the accent will turn into a dominant.)

The purpose of local compositional accents is to avoid monotony where the park landscape becomes monotonous, to create a system of visual landmarks in those areas of the park where the influence of the leading dominant weakens. They are often small architectural forms such as fountains, gazebos, sculptures, stairs, etc., which stand out well against the background of vegetation and emphasize the ends of alleys, their turns, intersections, and small areas. Larger accents (architectural structures, a clearing in a forest, etc.) play the role of second-order dominants.

A point appears either as a starting point or as a final point, as a source of attention, as a node - the junction of intersecting directions.

The point stands out as a graphic accent on the plane. Despite its relatively small size, it has very wide possibilities in constructing a composition.

Very often it is she who is the center of her entire structure. Considered as a compositional device, a point can focus the viewer’s attention on itself. Everything depends on the properties identified in the composition: location on the plane, relative size, silhouette, filling density, brightness, etc. In this sense, it is closely related to other graphic means of constructing a composition, their artistic properties. If a point differs sharply in properties from these means, it stands out most of all in the composition. If it approaches them, its dominant value decreases. Then it is included in a number of other means, making up an equivalent part overall composition. Thus, the artistic properties of a point are directly connected with the properties of a line, spot and color, forming as a whole a harmoniously organized graphic plane.

The expressiveness of plants perceived against the light depends on the shape and transparency of the crowns. This lighting is most effective when the openwork parts are combined with dense masses of foliage that have a good silhouette. With dense, compact crowns, the highlighted leaves are located only along the contour and cannot always create the desired effect. In trees with a spreading crown and thin foliage, most of the crown can glow effectively in “backlit” lighting.

These lighting features (identified by V.A. Artamonov) are also important for alley, wing and other plantings, where the shape of one plant is visually superimposed on the shape of another.

40. Artistic and architectural factors influencing the placement of plants: volume, space. Give examples.

spatial unity of the composition, consistency, proportionality, subordination of three-dimensional and two-dimensional elements of the composition, all its forms, which predetermine the holistic perception of the work. According to the nature of the space being formed, the composition can be compact and dispersed, closed, semi-open and open, centric and polycentric, axial and multi-axial, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Since the properties of the space being formed are inextricably linked with its structure and the nature of the elements that form it (volumes, surfaces), the spatial unity of the composition depends on the ratio of volumes and open spaces, on the size and geometric shape of both, on the nature of the planes forming the space, static or dynamic balance of all structural guides of space, be it its axes or boundaries.

Spatial stereotypes of composition are the most resistant to stylistic changes, because they are associated with the very essence of the worldview of a particular culture. Therefore, spatial stereotypes are staged and can have multiple stylistic interpretations. The spatial unity of the composition is perceived in movement and time.

41. Artistic and architectural factors influencing the placement of plants: surface, line. Give examples.

LINE as means of expression and element of composition. Line is one of the main formative elements; it most accurately conveys the nature of the outline of any shape. An open line is perceived to lie on a plane. A closed line, covering a certain part of the plane, becomes the contour of a figure (element). Any non-figurative ornamental structure consists of simple geometric elements of regular or irregular shape, of combinations of lines of different plasticity, or of a combination of lines and figures. The plastic search for the main element allows you to “play” with changing the nature of the outlines of the lines, its size and thickness, to carry out formal transformations with figures based on the signs of “division”, “outline”, the ratio of their “massiveness” and “delicacy”. The line reveals not only the boundaries of the form , but also the artist’s emotions.

It is the most specific graphic way of depiction and expression.

Lines are divided into three types: straight lines - vertical, horizontal, inclined curves with a constant radius of curvature - circles or their arcs; curves with variable radius - parabolas, hyperbolas and their segments. Curves or straight lines themselves are not carriers artistic expression. But under certain conditions they can reveal a hidden emotional charge.

The composition cannot be considered in isolation from the time, from the style of the era. Each style has its own line. Strict vertical and horizontal lines are characteristic of the Romanesque style, baroque, classicism; swift straight lines - the styles of the late twentieth century. (for example high-tech); smooth, graceful are characteristic of many modern trends. The most emotional, elegant and graceful line of Art Nouveau. The melodiousness and sophistication of the Art Nouveau line could not have more accurately expressed the sophistication of the creative quest of this period. Art Nouveau artists avoided clear geometry and right angles, preferring serpentine lines. Graceful lines evoking various associations with the world of wildlife. In the 60s. XX century The trend of organic minimalism appeared. The lines of his objects follow the outlines of the human body.

42. Artistic and architectural factors influencing the placement of plants: mass, color. Give examples.

Color can have a significant impact on the perception of space, light colors can visually increase, and dark colors can reduce space, warm colors can bring objects closer and cold colors can move objects away from the observer.

In landscape design, a number of techniques are used: – color contrast between the main object of consideration and the background. It can be achieved by the strength of color, as well as a combination of cold and warm tones, a comparison of hard and soft color shades; – quantitative color contrast, when a small color spot of another stands out against the predominant background of one color; – solution of individual zones of the park in a local, unique flavor; – rhythmic construction of color compositions and spaces; – creating illusions that visually enhance or weaken individual elements of a park composition or ensemble, correcting proportions, the shape of objects and the depth of spaces using color nuances.

Remember from botany and zoology courses how plants and animals are adapted to their environment.
What primarily influences the placement of plants and animals?

The flora and fauna are often called “wildlife,” thereby emphasizing the role of these components in the biosphere. It is living nature that primarily personifies the beauty of the landscape for us. Love for living nature enriches our lives, inspires artists, poets, composers, and cultivates humane feelings in people. Caring “for our little brothers” is an indicator of a person’s morality.

It is generally accepted that the most important thing in living nature is vegetation. Even the names of natural zones speak about it - taiga, steppes, etc. But the animal world is richer in species composition. In our country there are up to 130 thousand species of animals (of which up to 90 thousand are insects), and there are only about 18 thousand higher plants. It is interesting that among the representatives of the plant world, species of herbaceous plants predominate - there are many thousands of them, while there are slightly more than 500 species of trees.

Among representatives of the animal world, insects hold the championship. There are significantly fewer vertebrates, especially terrestrial ones, in the fauna of Russia. Fish are numerous, there are more than 1450 species.

There are very few amphibians and reptiles - only 160 species. The diversity of birds is expressed (including all those that occur during seasonal migrations) by a figure of about 710. Of the mammals, about 350 species live in our country.

The composition and abundance of living organisms is greatly influenced by human activities. As a result, some species have sharply reduced their numbers, and some have even been completely exterminated.

At the same time, there are species artificially introduced into our flora and fauna, for example, the American muskrat, raccoon, mink, etc., and among the plants are the tea bush and bamboo.

The flora and fauna of our country are very diverse. The appearance and composition of the flora and fauna of our country, as well as the entire planet, is determined by two main factors: physical and geographical differences between regions - different regimes of light, temperature and humidity, the nature of the soil, relief features - and the geological history of the territory.

The change in the face of the Earth during geological evolution, its surface and climate, the appearance and disappearance of continental connections were the reason that the processes of speciation proceeded differently in different regions. In the distribution of representatives of certain species of plants and animals, patterns can be traced, determined primarily by latitudinal zonality and altitudinal zonality.

Think about which continents and countries the flora and fauna of our country are similar to.

But all these differences are explained not only modern conditions. Both plants and animals carry in their appearance and distribution features inherited from the distant past. Desert-steppe groups of plants and animals came to us from Central Asia. North American conifers penetrated from Alaska to the Far East. The specific features of our Far Eastern flora are combined with the originality of the Manchu-Chinese fauna.

The flora and fauna of Russia were greatly influenced by the Quaternary glaciation.

Main types of vegetation in Russia include vegetation of arctic deserts, tundras, forests, steppes, and deserts.

The vegetation of Arctic deserts does not form a continuous cover. Individual patches of lichens and individual plant stems are replaced by bare areas.

The harsh climatic conditions of the tundra (low temperatures, large swampy areas, permafrost, strong winds) determine the characteristics of the vegetation cover of the tundra. Mosses, lichens, and low-growing shrubs predominate here; The absence of forest is also characteristic. Typical representatives of tundra vegetation are moss lichen (“reindeer moss”), green mosses, lingonberries, polar poppies, dwarf birch, and polar willow.

Think about how to explain the small growth of plants in the tundra and their tendency to spread along the ground. What species form the northern border of the forest in Russia and why?

Rice. 60. Typical representatives of woody vegetation of Russia

The forest vegetation of Russia is widespread in the temperate zone, represented by dark coniferous forests of spruce and fir in the north, taiga cedar-larch forests in Siberia, mixed forests of spruce, pine, aspen, birch, etc. in the middle zone and broad-leaved forests in the southern regions of this zone .

Using the map (Fig. 60), identify typical representatives of the flora of the forest zone of Russia. Remember from your botany course how taiga plants are adapted to severe frosts.

The steppe zone in its virgin form, unaffected by human agricultural activity, is a sea of grass vegetation. The most common in the steppe are feather grass, fescue, tonkonog, and a host of other flowering plants. Since the steppes are located in an area with insufficient moisture, representatives of herbaceous vegetation tolerate the lack of moisture in the soil well.

In semi-deserts and temperate deserts, conditions are less favorable for the existence of plants and animals than in the steppe, therefore, as in Arctic deserts, a continuous cover of vegetation does not form here. Desert vegetation is well adapted to drought: the leaves of many plants have turned into thorns, evaporating a minimum of moisture, the roots are branched and very long. Various types of wormwood and solyanka predominate.

Diversity of the animal world of Russia. The fauna of the Arctic deserts is mainly associated with the sea. Walruses, seals, polar bears, and many bird colonies are common here. In the tundra, the number of terrestrial animals increases somewhat, although a small number of their species are represented here: lemming, mountain hare, wolf, arctic fox, ptarmigan, snowy owl, and reindeer. Huge flocks of migratory birds fly to the tundra in the summer. Waterfowl are especially numerous: geese, ducks, swans.

In the taiga, predators include the bear, wolf, and lynx; from ungulates - elk, wild boar; Among rodents, squirrels and chipmunks predominate; Fur-bearing species include marten and sable. In broad-leaved forests the number of ungulates increases: deer, roe deer, moose. Birds are more diverse than in the taiga: blackbirds, black grouse, etc.

Rice. 61. Typical representatives of the animal world of Russia

In the steppe the number of birds increases even more. There are many birds nesting on the ground. Some of them feed on plants (quail), others on plants and insects (bustard, little bustard, lark), and others are predators that eat insects and small rodents (steppe kestrel, steppe eagle). There are many rodents in the steppe - gophers, hamsters, voles. By storing large reserves of grain in their burrows for the winter, they cause significant damage to agriculture.

Of the large animals in the steppe, there are ungulates - saigas, which escape from enemies with the help of fast legs.

The fauna of deserts is dominated by reptiles (lizards, snakes), fast-moving ungulates (gaiters, saigas, kulans), and rodents (jerboas). Common birds include larks, pipits, desert sparrows, and bustards.

Rice. 62. Game animals of Russia

Plants and animals are perfectly adapted to their habitats. For example, in our forests birch and spruce coexist. Birches promote the growth of shade-loving young spruce trees under their canopy, and then the grown spruce trees are left without light by the birches that helped them grow... Trees in forests, grasses in the steppes, dwarf trees and crooked forests in the tundra - all these are examples of the ideal adaptation of plants to their habitat.

Vary according to appearance and adaptation to the same conditions of animals - flying, running, climbing, swimming.

Birch

The white-trunked tender birch tree has long symbolized Russian nature, Russia. The image of the Russian birch has been sung by many wonderful poets and artists.

Birch trees reach a height of 10-25 m (maximum 45), trunk diameter - 25-120 cm (maximum up to 150).

The bark of birch trees (birch bark) is white in many species. This is the only breed in the world with snow-white bark. The lifespan of a birch is from 40 to 120 years. Flowering from 8-15 years, in plantings - from 20-30 years, abundant and almost annual.

Birch is light-loving, grows successfully in various climatic conditions, is frost-resistant, tolerates permafrost, is drought-resistant, has little demand for soil fertility and moisture, and therefore is found on rocky, poor sandy soils, and peat bogs. The birch goes far to the north and south, rising high into the mountains. It is one of the first to settle in pine-spruce clearings. In the spring, the birch tree is one of the first to awaken in the forest: there is still snow, and there are already thawed patches near it, orange earrings are swollen on the tree... And in the fall, the birch tree is among the first to rush to put on a beautiful golden headdress...

Brown bear

The brown bear is a mammal of the bear family of the carnivorous order. This is a large animal: body length up to 2.5 m, height at withers up to 135 cm, weight up to 450 kg. The largest bears are found in our country in Kamchatka and Sakhalin. Limbs with severely blunted claws. The fur is thick and long. The coloring is monochromatic. The bear lives in various forests, preferring taiga forests, especially spruce forests. The diet is dominated by plant foods: pine nuts, hazel, beech nuts, acorns, all kinds of berries, wild fruits, green parts of plants; Bears also feast on fish and insects. Sometimes the bear attacks wild ungulates and livestock. Causes damage to people by visiting oats, corn, orchards, and apiaries.

For the winter it hides in a den and hibernates. In January - February, cubs appear in the mother bear's den, usually two or three.

The most numerous bears are in Kamchatka, Primorye, Yakutia, in the mountains of Siberia, and in the north-west of the European part of Russia. The bear has become a symbol of the animal world of Russia. For a long time, the figure of a bear has been present in various coats of arms. The most striking example of this is the coat of arms of the city of Yaroslavl.

Questions and tasks

What is richer in species composition - the flora or fauna of Russia?
What influences the placement of vegetation?
Name the main types of vegetation in our country.
How are animals adapted to life in treeless areas? in the forests?
Practical work No. 7. Making a forecast of changes in flora and fauna when other components of the natural complex change.
Analyze the flora and fauna of this natural complex. How have plants and animals adapted to the peculiarities of the relief, climate, and moisture of the territory?
Who will be the first to respond to changes in the natural complex: plants or animals?
How will the flora and fauna change with changes in other components of the natural complex?