Horizontal Pattern of Trees in the Cenopopulation of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. in the Forest Tundra Ecotone on the Taimyr Peninsula

The features of the horizontal spatial pattern of multi-aged open forests of Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.), forming the northern limit of tree vegetation in the forest-tundra ecotone in the Eastern part of the Taimyr Peninsula, are considered. It was found that all studied tree stands are characterized by a mosaic structure, in which areas occupied by woody vegetation alternate with open spaces, the area of which ranges from 37 to 50%. In all cases, the composition of the tree layer includes both single trees and their aggregations (biogroups), share of which varies from 17 to 32%. Pair aggregation of trees predominates in biogroups, amounting to 83%. The predominance of the random nature of the location of trees in the formation of the horizontal pattern has been shown, but the specific type of spatial distribution is also determined by the stage of ontogenesis in which the cenopopulation is located.