N.V. Kazakov

1Kamchatka branch of Pacific Institute of geography FED RAS, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 683000, Russia;
e-mail: nvkazakov@yandex.ru

The paper gives in detail soil morphology in a contact zone between Siberian dwarf pine and alder dwarf pine in high layer of moderate mountain landscapes of Kamchatka. Each type of dwarf pines grows on the particular soils that differ in their features of high horizons. Permafrost distribution is connected with the heat sealing layer the under Siberian dwarf pine. There is no permafrost under the alder dwarf pine. Shadowing from the alder dwarf pines may result in suppression of tendrils of the alder dwarf pine in the contact zone. Leaf litter of the alder dwarf pine suppresses the moss layer development. The alder dwarf pine invades the territory of the Siberian dwarf pine but the permafrost under the Siberian dwarf pine suppresses boundary displacement. The border between two species of dwarf pine remains unchanged since a fall of volcanic ash.

Keywords: soils, Kamchatka, tundra-forest, Siberian dwarf pine, alder dwarf pine, contact zone.