Mapping Studies of Phytocenoses in Environment Interfaces (as Methodical Approach)

Mapping studies of phytocenoses at environmental interface require a set of approaches and methods providing obtaining of detailed information on vegetation structure and dynamics under contrast environmental conditions. Phytocenoses at environmental interface can be a regional model for indication of current processes and of past changes in vegetation structure under different environmental conditions. Mapping of environmental interface cenoses allows revealing the peculiarities of phytocenoses structure and formation at regional and topological level of plants organization. This is, in turn, an information basis for identification of current processes within zonal vegetation type (environmental zone). In the present article, the results of large-scale mapping of phytocenoses under the conditions of interdependence of development of zonal taiga and extra-zonal steppe at Lake Baikal western coast are presented. We use a study method combination of geobotanical survey with large-scale schematic mapping and vegetation mapping on the base of field deciphering of aerospace pictures made in different years together with phytocenoses monitoring during different seasons and years forming at the interface of zonal forests and extra-zonal steppe.