Competitive strategy of the subalpine tallgrass species of Northwest Caucasus

We aimed to research the spectrum of the CSR strategies for subalpine tallgrass communities of the Northwest Caucasus (Teberda state natural biosphere reserve). The community is typical of the subalpine zone in the altitude range of 1850 to 2600 m (mean 2300 m). It occupies the lower portions of slopes, valley bottoms and depressions on slopes with significant winter snowpack accumulation. Stable water supply from the upper part of slopes is an important factor increasing its productivity. A few tall and highly productive species have established at such sites, since grazing was stopped. The community dominants are Rumex alpinus, Senecio platyphylloides, Cephalaria gigantea, Ligusticum alatum and other. Accomplish this we measured key functional traits of the leaves: leaf area, wet leaf mass, dry leaf mass. On the basis of these traits we calculated CSR-strategies for the 42 species of the tallgrass communities. We defined six types of CSR-strategies and confirmed that most of explored species has strongly pronounced traits of the competitive (C) and competitive-ruderal (CR) strategies. For the 11 species C-strategy was identified (for example, Angelica purpurascens, A. tatianae, Cirsium chlorocomos, Heracleum asperum, H. leskovii, H. sosnowskyi). The degree of C-selection has positive correlation with mean height of the species. CR-strategy was shown for the Aconitum nasutum, Cirsium simplex, Geranium sylvaticum, Hesperis voronovii, Rumex alpestris and other. Two species (Achillea millefolium, Dactylis glomerata) have competitive-stress-tolerant strategy (CS). Stress- tolerant (S) strategy has been identified for the three species Veronica filiformis, Lilium monadelphum, Millium effusum. Two species have CSR-strategy (Trifolium pratense, Astrantia maxima). Also, 70% species have the ruderal strategy features (on average, 26%). We assume it is result of the anthropogenic influence for many centuries. Our results contradict the popular point of view that highland species have stress-tolerant strategy. This can be explained by the ecological conditions in the lower portions of slopes, valley bottoms and depressions on slopes. In this conditions competitive species are most adaptive. Our hypotheses was supported; constant Caucasus species of the subalpine grass communities have significantly racteristics of competitive strategies (up to 95%) (except V. filiformis).

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