Title
Open birch woodlands (Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii) partly with Picea obovata, Pinus sylvestris, with lichens, dwarf shrubs and herbs (Cladina spp., Cladonia spp., Empetrum hermaphroditum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris), with Calluna vulgaris, Cornus suecica on sandy soils of the Kola peninsula
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Norway: Varangerfjord; Russia: northern and eastern part of the Kola peninsula
area frequency
42 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Betula czerepanovii-Empetrum hermaphroditum-Cladina spp.-Cladonia spp.-community (Empetro-Betuletum pubescentis Nordhagen1943).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
In the very open, 3-5 m high stands Betula pubescens subsp czerepanovii predominates. Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris represent admixtures in areas. The shrub layer is usually absent. In the only locally contiguous herb layer, dwarf shrubs are often distributed in mosaic form, with Empetrum hermaphroditum dominating. Grasses, grass-like plants, herbs and ferns are less abundant, but always present. The moss layer is determined by lichens of the genuses Cladina and Cladonia depending on soil humidity and winter snow levels, while mosses play only an insignificant role. With a contiguous dwarf shrub layer, the moss layer is only weakly developed.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii, locally admixed Picea obovata, Pinus sylvestris
Herb layer
Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Calluna vulgaris, Cornus suecica, scattered Loiseleuria procumbens; Deschampsia flexuosa, Solidago virgaurea, Carex brunnescens, Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Cladina stellaris, Cladina arbuscula, Cladina mitis, Cladina rangiferina, Cetraria nivalis, Cetraria cucullata, Cladonia spp.
Diagnostically important species
Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii; Vaccinium myrtillus, Calluna vulgaris, Cornus suecica, Loiseleuria procumbens
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Palsa mires.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
arctic scrub-tundra (B17, B18, B19, B20), alpine vegetation (B42), spruce forests (D1, D2), pine forests (D42, D44), palsa mires (S14), aapa mires (S15), transition bogs (S18/19).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture land.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
northern part of the Baltic Shield; a plateau separated by river courses
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
0-500 m
Geology (bedrock)
silicate basement rocks: granite, gneiss or granulite (Precambrian) covered by Pleistocene moraine sediments
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
ferrum-humus podzole with thin raw humus layer; (orthic (stony) podzols)
soil texture
sandy, loamy-sandy
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VIII (IX)2, IX
average annual temperature
-3 to -1 °C
average annual precipitation
650-750 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 9-12 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -12 to -10 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
In the eastern part of the peninsula semi-natural stands are present that are in need of protection.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
severe air pollution, pasturing and grazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
Protection of representative stands as forest reservations in the eastern part of the peninsula.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Russia: catchment areas of the lower courses of Pečenga, Titovka, Ura, intermediate current area of the rivers Teriberka and Voronja also the plateau on the left bank of Ponoj (catchment area of the rivers Lebjažja and Ačerjok).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Lavrenko & Sočava (Red.) 1956; Zinserling 1932
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by S.A. Gribova and T.K. Jurkovskaja
