Structure and Dynamics of Cenopopulations of Siberian Juniper (Juniperus Sibirica Burgsd) at the Upper Limit of its Growth in the Western Part of the Putorana Plateau

Aim. Assessment of the modern distribution, morphological and age structure of Siberian juniper (Juniperus sibibrica Burgsd.) thickets within in the western part of the Putorana plateau (Syukhie gory massif).
Methodology. Using the method of studying the morphological structure of woody vegetation growing at different altitudes above sea level and classical methods of dendrochronology, the age and morphological structure of 597 individuals of Siberian juniper growing at the upper limit of woody vegetation were studied. Dendrochronological samples within the upper forest boundary were selected at different absolute altitudes (from 358 to 650 m ASL) and under different exposure conditions.
Results. It is shown that, since the end of the 19th century, one of the most widespread and long-lived shrub species in the study area – Siberian juniper – has been spreading intensively under the canopy of emerging Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen) stands. The type and rate of shrub colonisation varies according to slope exposure, tree stand density and altitude. It was found that in the study area Siberian juniper is distributed only in the zone from the upper limit of the distribution of the border of closed forests (358–515 m ASL) to the upper limit of the distribution of individual trees in the tundra (604–650 m ASL). In the studied massif of the Sukhye Mountains, Siberian juniper is distributed only on the slopes of the southern, western and eastern exposures. The observed upslope expansion of Siberian juniper is explained by changes in climatic conditions in the study area.
Research implications. The results of the study can be used to create models of climate-induced transformation of high mountain ecosystems in the Subarctic.

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