Mire vegetation of the Southern Kamchatka state nature reserve

The vegetation of four mire systems of Southern Kamchatka Nature Protected Area was studied at the Pacific and Okhotsk Sea coasts to the south of Ozernaya River. The plant community classification based on the Ru­ssian ecologo-phytocoenological approach is ela­bo­rated. 8 associations (Herbosphagnetum eriopho­rosum sceuch­­zerii-polystachionis, H. empetroso sibirici-cari­cosum cryptocarpae, Magnocaricetum caricosum cryp­tocarpae, Uliginiherbetum caricoso-trichophorosum, U. carico­sum limosae, U. caricosum cryptocarpae, U. menyan­thosum and Empetretum sibirici sphagnosum) included into 4 formations (Herbosphagneta, Magno­cariceta, Uliginiherbeta and Empetreta sibirici) and 3 ve­getational types (Sphagnetion, Phragmitetion and Vacci­nio-Empet­retion) are distinguished. The characteristic of the syn­thaxa and the description of the mire systems structure are given. The mires of the studied area are concerned to be a separate Southern Kamchatka aapa-mire type. It differes from the other mires of the Kamchatka Peninsula by a thin (up to 90—100 cm) peat-bet, the peculiar floristical composition including some meadow and tundra species and the unusual structure characterised by the relict sand dunes in the central parts of the mires. The age of the mires determined by the means of the radiocarbon dating was considered to be not more than 5000—5500 years. The studied mire systems satisfied the requirements of the Ramsar Convention criteria and it was proposed to include the South Kamchatka mires into the List of Wetlands of International Importance