Diversity of coniferous species and communities under natural and anthropogenic conditions on islands of Primorsky Region

Abstract Coniferous stands perform environment-forming, protective, indicative, recreational and other functions. The islands in the northern part of the Sea of Japan (Primorsky Region, Russia) are inhabited by eight species of gymnosperms belonging to three families and five genera: Abies holophylla Maxim., Abies nephrolepsis (Trautv.ex Maxim.) Maxim., Picea ajanensis Fisch. ex Carrière, Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc. Juniperus davurica Pall., Juniperus rigida Siebold & Zucc., Taxus cuspidata Siebold & Zucc. Populations of Taxus cuspidata survive under natural conditions on Naumov and Petrov islands; communities of Pinus densiflora – on Vkhodnye, Sibiryakov, and Antipenko islands; natural plantations of Abies holophylla – on Stenin and Sibiryakov islands; elfinwoods of Juniperus davurica – on Skaly Kreyser Islands. Under anthropogenic conditions, coniferous species are rare or sporadic. The islands of the Pacific region from the subtropics to the boreal zone are home to 35 species of conifers, 11 genera and 4 families. The most common coniferous species on the Pacific islands are Taxus cuspidata and Pinus pumila. Two groups of islands: one comprising Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands as well as other embracing islands of the Bering Sea and the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, are identified based on similarity in coniferous species composition. For conservation and restoration of communities with the participation of coniferous species, attention should be given to both large tracts of coniferous plantations and small populations.