IMPACT OF GROUND FIRES ON CONIFERS RENEWALS IN COWBERRY-BILBERRY PINE FORESTS
It is reported that forest fires are one of the most significant ecological factors having diverse impact on all the components of phytocenoses in pine forests of the flat Zauralye region. During the first post-fire years there can be observed outbreaks of natural renewals of tree species, pine trees in particular, i.e. consistent (though rare) surface fires, are the factors which effectively stimulate the natural reproduction of the above tree species. Later on the pines undergrowth fades away as result of restoring the moss and grass-bushy storey and deep coarse-humus litter which hampers seeds germination and seedlings rooting. Fir trees regeneration begins three-four years later than that of pine trees and it is of gradual and steady character. The specific composition of conifer undergrowth, with pine trees predominating on fresh cinders, is being transformed into a fully spruce forest with only slight inclusion of depressed pines in the tree stands which were not exposed to resistant fires.