STUDIES OF THE PLANT COVER IN MINOR MIRES OF THE NORTH-WESTERN LADOGA LAKE AREA FOR THE PURPOSE OF LARGE-SCALE MAPPING
The large-scale (1 : 25 000) vegetation map of an area under study near the north-western Ladoga Lake coast (Leningrad Region, Priozersk District) was made. Mire vegetation as well as the structure of plant cover was analyzed as a part of the mapping project. Mire types of the north-western Ladoga area were studied. The mires are mainly mesotrophic and oligomesotrophic by nutrient status. They are small, rounded, oval or elongated, and have developed in tectonic depressions. Specific landscape features, namely granite rocks (selgas), closeness to Ladoga Lake, abundance of small glacial lakes and former agricultural activity cause the peculiarities of mires. We distinguish pine and spruce mires, sedge-sphagnum inland mires, as well as common reed mires and sedge coastal mires. Descriptions ofmire vegetation obtained during field seasons are presented. Some aspects of mapping and preparing a legend to the map are discussed. The table shows several mires on topographic maps, their spectrozonal images, and the results of their aerial photo interpretation. A fragment of a legend of a large-scale vegetation map is given including mire vegetation.