The Influence of Climatic and Anthropogenic Factors on the Productivity of Forest Stands in the Ecotone of the Northern Treeline on the Yamal Peninsula.

On 12 sample plots established in the ecotone of the northern forest boundary in the Khadyta-Yakha River valley on the Yamal Peninsula, time of emergence and death, as well as productivity of about 1000 Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) trees were analyzed. Over the last 140 years, there has been a sharp increase in the stocks and annual growth of stem phytomass of woody plants within the studied ecotone. Since the 1970s, the average annual growth of phytomass has been increased by 1.2–39 times, which was facilitated by a 0.9°C increase in average June–July air temperature. However, this effect is insignificant in areas of mixed open forests subjected to periodic logging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]