Vegetation map of the National Park “Belovezhskaya Pushcha”: creation and practical use experience

• DOI: 10.31111/geobotmap/2019.18
• Publication Date: 2020-02-20T16:07:46Z
• Authors: D. G. Grummo; R. V. Tsvirko; N. A. Zeliankevich; E. Y. Kulikova; O. V. Sozinov
• Keywords: Ruderal species; Thematic map; Vegetation Classification

In 2013–2018 studies of phytocoenotic diversity were carried out in the territory National Park “Belovezhskaya Pushcha” (Belarus). As a result, classification scheme vegetation was developed based on floristic approach (Braun-Blanquet method) and large-scale (1 : 100 000) geobotanical map made. The is compiled basis field data, analysis remote sensing literary cartographic sources, land forest inventory materials. compilation this consisted 4 stages. 1) pre-field (cameral) stage included: collection archive data about investigated territory, selection space imagery, primary processing digital images visualization, interpretation, automatic non-controlled classification, preliminary compilation. 2) Field provided for surface interpretation satellite imagery.In total, 1851 complete relevés made during studies, including 743 forest, 452 mire, 576 meadow, segetal ruderal plant communities. 3) post-field stage, preparation base; systematization materials; development final legend; image standards creating models; controlled with segmentation by method superpixels (SNIC-Simple Non-Iterative Clustering); assessment reliability results; geometric geographical generalization; making an original map. 4) check (verification) During 2018 season protected area checked protocol. main unit legend, syntaxon vegetation, association, however, along to display typology cover, syntaxons as higher hierarchical rank (union) lower (options, facies), well rankless communities are used. establishing names associations subassociations comparative various regional works taken into account (Matuszkiewicz, Matuszkiewicz, 1954; Czerwiński, 1978; Faliński, 1991, 1994а, b; Kwiatkowski, 1994; Bulokhov, Solomeshch, 2003; Semenischenkov, 2014; Lądowe ekosystemy…, 2016; Dubyna et al., 2019;). mapped units reflecting restoration stages association marked letter indices. Heterogeneous areas consisting regularly repeatedly alternating presented complexes (phytocoenoses-complex). legend contains 75 units, — 40, shrub 4, mire 13, meadow wasteland 11, 6, deforestation disturbed habitats 1. Separate reflect other lands (water, residential development, etc.) practical application identifying key (important biodiversity conservation) developing science-based functional zoning shown.