The uniqueness of the Abrau peninsula is determined by a high level of floristic and phytocoenotic diversity and the relict nature of the vegetation cover of the shiblyak—broad-leaved type of altitudinal zonality. For this mountain territory, a complex spatial organization is reviled. In this research, a cartographic method for the evaluation of the vegetation cover of a mountain territory has been approved by identifying its spatial structure. The complex analysis of field data (geobotanical descriptions) and remote sensing data (multispectral satellite images, digital elevation model) made it possible to obtain a digital cartographic model of vegetation for the key area using maximum likelihood classification with etalons and discriminant analysis. The compiled large-scale (s. 1:50,000) inventory map of the vegetation reflects the actual vegetation cover, represented by a diversity of hemixerophytic sub-Mediterranean and mesophytic nemoral communities. The change in the basic communities in the altitudinal spectrum determines the identification of two belts. The lower seaside belt of hemixerophytic forests, sparse forests, and shrub communities is expressed at heights of 0–150 (200) m a.s.l. It is characterized by the development of pistachio-juniper (Juniperus excelsa, Pistacia mutica) forests and sparse forests, oak (Quercus pubescens) forests, as well as serial vegetation with shrub and herb-dwarf shrub petrophyte-herb communities. The belt of mesophytic broad-leaved forests is located at heights of 150 (200)–450 m a.s.l. Pine-oak (Quercus petraea, Pinus kochiana) and broad-leaved (Carpinus betulus, Tilia begoniifolia, Acer campestre) forests dominate in it. The important patterns in the spatial structure of the belt are expressed within the altitudinal belts. The structure of vegetation communities is formed under the conditions of several groups of relief forms: watershed surfaces, slopes, seismic forms, erosion forms, and marine forms. The most valuable results of the investigation are connected with reviling the gradients of phytocoenotic diversity. Along with altitudinal gradient, the position on different levels of catena has significant role in its determination. The identified spatial patterns are important for understanding the formation of Northwestern Caucasus ecosystems as a part of Mediterranean region.

A method for synthesis of nanocomposite with core–shell structure made of carbon matrices and La nanoparticles for its subsequent approbation as contrast agent in radiological studies has been proposed. The synthesis includes three stages, consisting of (1) preparation of few-layer graphite fragments (graphite nanoflakes, GNF) as carbon matrix support, (2) preparation of La-containing composite by impregnation of GNF nanoparticles with lanthanum nitrate solution with subsequent annealing and (3) surface graphitization of obtained product. All samples were studied by transmission electron microscopy, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was shown that the graphite shells contained from 2 to 3 carbon layers, and the La-containing phase was lanthanum carbonate.

Работа посвящена распространению в Московском регионе Ramalina europaea Gasparyan, Sipman et Lücking. Вид сравнительно недавно выделен из Ramalina pollinaria-group, включен в Красную книгу города Москвы и предложен к занесению в список охраняемых видов лишайников Московской области. Ревизия образцов Ramalina pollinaria и R. farinacea, собранных с начала ХХ в. до начала ХХ1 вв. в гербарии MW показывает, что вид встречался в Московском регионе и в этот период. В результате объединения полученной информации с новыми данными о находках Ramalina europaea при нанесении на карту удалось получить актуальные сведения о географии и экологии вида, а также о его обилии в Московском регионе.

Introduction. The article summarizes the experience of the teachers of the Department of Biogeography of Lomonosov Moscow State University, accumulated during remote teaching and organizing field practices for students under restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. The sudden introduction of remote learning required an urgent adaptation of academic programmes, the modification of existing teaching technologies to the new format, and a rapid restructuring of the educational process. Materials and Methods. The use of a new textbook with presentations and video materials, archival materials, educational and methodological and scientific publications, video recordings describing characteristics of individual plant and animal species, the structure and composition of particular phytocenoses, issues of their protection and anthropogenic transformation. Published materials on the biological and landscape diversity of Moscow City and the Moscow Region and on the specifics of anthropogenic transformation in this territory and ongoing conservation measures are used. Results. Determination of the methodological basis and development of principles for organizing and conducting classes and field practices in the context of anti-COVID-19 restrictions and analysis of the experience gained in order to determine the possibility of its application in similar circumstances. Discussion and Conclusions. In the context of distance learning, approaches to the demonstration of visual materials during classes were changed, the presentations that replaced the explanations of teachers in the exposition of the Museum of Geography of Moscow State University (the main training ground for practical work on the course "Ecology with the basics of biogeography") were created. Field practices were reduced, moved to new locations and reformatted in terms of approaches to the study of flora, geobotanical profiling and writing a report. The experience gained was positive and the work results received high marks in the surveys of students and teachers. The developed approaches can be used in case of new restrictions, as well as when working with people with disabilities.

Epiphytes model the diversity of forest communities and indicate the integrity of natural ecosystems or the threat to their existence. The high sensitivity of epiphytic species to the environmental quality makes them good indicators in anthropogenic landscapes. The study deals with the distribution patterns of rare indicator epiphytic species at the border of their range in the broadleaved– coniferous forest zone, in the central part of the East European Plain within the Moscow region. The distribution and abundance of eight lichen species Anaptychia ciliaris, Bryoria fuscescens, B. implexa, Usnea dasopoga, U. glabrescens, U. hirta, U. subfloridana and the epiphytic moss Neckera pennata were studied. The main environmental factors at the regional level were climate variables based on the Worldclim database, water indices based on Sentinel-2 multispectral remote sensing data, and the anthropogenic impact factor in terms of the Nighttime lights of the earth’s surface based on the Suomi NPP satellite system. It was revealed that the vast majority of records were in the western and northern sectors of the region, i.e. in the broad-leaved–coniferous forest zone, while the vast majority of 0-records were in the southern and eastern sectors, in the area of broad-leaved and pine forests and extensive reclaimed wetlands. The association with different types of communities and biotopes, as well as tree species, was assessed at the ecosystem level, using field data. It has been established that the distribution of the studied species is governed by natural-geographic features of the territory. The principal limiting factors are air pollution, ecological restrictions (high humidity requirement of sites), cutting of mature forests and formation of local anthropogenic infrastructure. In perspective the study of ecology and living conditions of the studied rare species will help determine the optimal conditions contributing to biodiversity conservation in forests near large metropolitan areas and optimization of habitat diversity.

Protected areas (PAs) are among the main tools for preserving biodiversity and creating an environment for the natural course of ecological processes. The identification of forest biodiversity is especially important for large metropolitan areas. An obvious problem in assessing the efficiency of the PAs network is the lack of up-to-date cartographic materials representing the typological diversity of vegetation. The aim of the paper is to identify forest biodiversity and fragmentation in the example of the Moscow region (MR)—the largest metropolis in Eastern Europe. The typological classification was carried out at a detailed hierarchical level—33 association groups (ass. gr.) considering the diversity of the land cover. A random forest algorithm was used for cartographic mapping (overall accuracy 0.59). Remote sensing (RS) data included Sentinel-2A, DEM SRTM, and PALSAR radar images. Six fragmentation metrics were calculated based on the raster map of forest typological diversity. A significant correlation between the forest diversity and PAs forest patch fragmentation metrics was noted. It has been established that the PAs proportion of the territory accounts for almost 20% only within the northernmost district and noticeably decreases to the south to 1–2%. At the same time, fragmentation noticeably increases from Northeast to Southwest. The category of PAs does not affect the state of the forest cover. Additionally, there was no direct influence of the anthropogenic factor from both local sources and a large regional source, i.e., the city of Moscow. It is shown that the average area of PAs, supporting 75% of the typological diversity of regional communities, was about 1000 ha. The results of the study suggest that there is a general lack of environmental protection measures in the region. It is recommended to increase the area of PAs, primarily for less fragmented forest patches, including indigenous forest-steppe and forest types of communities.

Composite pine forests with nemoral deciduous tree species (Carpinus betulus, Quercus robur, Tilia cordata) are widespread in the broad-leaved forest region of Eastern Europe. They occupy vast ancient alluvial plains with sandy and sandy loamy soils, river terraces, and along the latter they can «come» in the broad-leaved-coniferous zone. Based on the analysis of 187 relevés made in the Bryansk, Kaluga, Moscow and Smolensk Regions, the classification of composite pine forests using the Braun-Blanquet approach was carried out. As a result of the classification, two groups of communities of composite nemoral pine forests were identified. One of them is pine forests with oak and/or linden, united in the ass. Corylo avellanae–Pinetum sylvestris Bulokhov et Solomeshch 2003, the other represents nemoral-herb pine forests with a presence of spruce and some accompanying species and is assigned to the Pinus sylvestris facies of the nemoral-herb spruce forest of the ass. Rhodobryo rosei–Piceetum abietis Korotkov in Morozova et al. 2017. The participation of broad-leaved tree species in this syntaxon is small in any of the layers. Both associations belong to the class Carpino–Fagetea sylvaticae Jakucs ex Passarge 1968. On the latitudinal gradient, communities of the ass. Corylo avellanae–Pinetum sylvestris differ in the participation of oak and lime and the accompanying species, which is reflected in the identification of two subassociations: Corylo avellanae-Pinetum typicum (with oak), which is common in the zone of broad-leaved forests, and Corylo avellanae-Pinetum tilietosum cordatae (with lime) – in the southern part of the broad-leaved-coniferous forests zone. The origin of composite pine forests is debatable. Some researchers consider them as primary and quasi primary forests, and explain their formation and existence by various types of disturbances, both of anthropogenic (selective logging, anthropogenic fires, pine plantations) and natural (for example, fires) character. Disturbed composite pine forests with lower frequency of diagnostic association species and species of nemoral forest class were classified as variant Sambucus racemosa of the subass. Corylo avellanae–Pinetum typicum. Hazel pine forests with a nemoral composition and spruce in the forest stand and undergrowth (Pinus sylvestris facies of the ass. Rhodobryo rosei–Piceetum abietis) are found in the zone of broad-leaved-coniferous forests in the landscapes of moraine plains and formed in the places of planting pine cultures in the habitats of nemoral-herb spruce forests. It is difficult to assign individual communities to one or another syntaxon, especially near the border of two zones, and their differentiation is best seen when analyzing a large number of relevés.

The literature review and analysis of a herbarium of fruticose epiphytic lichens Usnea (genus: Usnea Dill. Ex Adans.) from 450 points located in the Moscow region (Moscow Oblast – MO) showed the presence of five species in the territory. These species can be found on branches of spruce and pine, less often – birch, some finds are noted on black and gray alder, rowan, and willow. The emergence and development of Usnea in MO is possible strictly in the presence of certain conditions. Firstly, certain microclimatic parameters are required such as sufficiently high humidity of the surface air layer and minimal indicators of tropospheric pollution (absence of harmful compounds and of a high content of dust particles). Secondly, certain groups of plant communities, old-growth forests, and suitable phorophyte must be present. Schemes provided in the article demonstrate the locations of maximum diversity and individual finds of Usnea species per 100 km2 on the study area. The richest diversity of Usnea species is found in the Lotoshino and Taldom districts and at the intersection of the Volokolamsk, Ruza, and Istra districts, where there are no large polluting industrial objects and, according to ecomonitoring data, the air quality is the highest (with the lowest levels of harmful substances and dust particles). Usnea hirta and U. dasopoga are most widespread species of the genus Usnea in MO. Usnea lapponica and U. glabrescens are the rarest species, U. subfloridana is relatively rare. The reliability of the habitat of U. florida, U. glabrata in MO has not been confirmed yet. Usnea species are mainly present in the western and north-western portions of MO. These lichens are rarely found in the south-eastern portion of MO and on sites near big cities. Ecologically Usnea lichens gravitate toward wet and waterlogged old-growth coniferous forests, glades, and small foliar trees along river valleys, as well as edge parts of forested marshes and raised bogs. In these landscapes, the thallus of Usnea reaches the maximum size. Usnea species occur frequently and cover abundantly tree branches and trunks with multi-species sets of 2–4 epiphyte lichens (including species from other taxa). Thus, the ecological situation in the western and north-western portions of Moscow Oblast can be concluded to be favorable.

The territories located near the administrative boundaries of the subjects of the federation are often relatively intact and are of interest in conservation terms. This is largely due to their poor availability, due to which communities with a significant concentration of rare and protected species are found here. Often, regional protected natural areas are confined to such border territories. A number of examples of the functioning of protected areas of various status and categories near the borders of the Moscow region and the possibility of creating adjacent protected areas of various dimensions and categories in neighboring subjects of the federation are considered.

Alnus glutinosa is an European species with a wide range from the south of Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. However in many countries of Europe the areas of forests formed by black alder are scattered and often do not exceed 1–5 % of the forest cover due to both the small size of suitable ecotopes and their conversion to agriculture (Claessens et al., 2010). In the Moscow Region located in the center of the Russian Plain (Fig. 1), black alder forests also are about 5 % (Kotlov, Chernenkova, 2020) and have not been documented appropriately yet. Based upon 51 relevés two associations dominated by Alnus glutinosa from two vegetation classes were described using the Braun-Blanquet method. Ass. Urtico dioicae–Alnetum glutinosae Bulokhov et Solomeshch 2003 (class Alno glutinosae–Populetea albae Fukarek et Fabijanić 1968) (Bulokhov and Solomeshch, 2003; Semenishchenkov, 2016) includes floodplain hygro-mesophytic forests with nemoral species in herb layer (Table 1). This association is distributed in nemoral and broad-leaved coniferous zones of Eastern Europe. As a result of comparison with similar syntaxa from different regions of European Russia (Table 2) (Vasilevich, Stchukina, 2001; Sokolova, 2015; Semenishchenkov, 2016) its diagnostic species combination was enlarged by Impatiens noli-tangere, and new subassociation was described. Subassociation U. d.–A. g. athyrietosum filix-feminae Morozova et al. subass. nov. (Table 1, Fig. 2–4, nomenclature type (holotypus) — relevé 15 (author’s number serg-171a-14, Moscow Region, Sergiev Posad district, valley of a small river, author E. G. Suslova; diagnostic species: Angelica sylvestris, Athyrium filix-femina, Crepis paludosa, Deschampsia cespitosa, Oxalis acetosella, Padus avium, Rubus idaeus) unites the communities occurring in the floodplains of small rivers and relatively well-drained stream habitats in the broad-leaved coniferous zone and the southern taiga. Ass. Carici elongatae–Alnetum glutinosae Tx. 1931 (class Alnetea glutinosae Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Westhoff et al. 1946) (Table 3, Fig. 5, 6) with variants typica and Menyanthes trifoliata comprises herb-swamp alder carrs growing mainly in depressions of the watershed area and ancient lake basins, as well as near swampy streams, i.e. in habitats of poor drainage of the territory (Table 4). Diagnostic combination of this association in Moscow Region includes Alnus glutinosa, Calla palustris, Caltha palustris, Carex appropinquata, Cicuta virosa, Equisetum fluviatile, Lycopus europaeus, Scirpus sylvaticus, Scutellaria galericulata, Solanum dulcamara. Dominant species are Filipendula ulmaria, Phragmites australis, Calamagrostis canescens, and Carex vesicaria; a microrelief formed by tussocks of sedges (Carex appropinquata, C. cespitosa) is common. Black alder forests of var. Menyanthes trifoliata are different in the set and sometimes dominance of species of mesotrophic bogs like Menyanthes trifoliata, Comarum palustre, Thyselium palustre, Thelypteris palustris and cover of mosses that on occasion can reach 80 %. The predominance of Alno glutinosae–Populetea albae species in first association and Alnetea glutinosae species in the second one is evident. A distinctive feature of the ass. Urtico dioicae–Alnetum glutinosae is relatively large proportion of nemoral species of the class Carpino-Fagetea (11.1 %) and small amount of wetland species of the class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea (3.5 %), these in the ass. Carici elongatae–Alnetum glutinosae, are 3.6 and 20.8 % respectively (Fig. 7). The floristic composition and structure of black alder stands depend on the hydrological regime and nutrient availability (Slezák et al., 2011), which are determined by the position of communities in the landscape. The most important factors were interpereted via vegetation using the method of Ellenberg ecological scales (Ellenberg et al., 1991) (Fig. 8). Нabitats of the ass. Urtico dioicae–Alnetum glutinosae are mesic to humid, rather rich and neutral in soil acidity, with poorly expressed microrelief, and with almost no tussock forming species. Such sites often occur in floodplains of small rivers (Table 4), which have a short flooding period (Braslavskaya, 2004), as well as on peat mining along the reclamation channels. Ass. Carici elongatae–Alnetum glutinosae occupies more wet waterlogged and acidic habitats and less rich ones (Fig. 9). Fluctuations in the groundwater level here are not so considerable, and the duration of flooding is longer due to the difficulty of flow and poor drainage of the territory (Döring-Mederake, 1990; Blagoveshсhinskii, 2018). A specific mircorelief is developped with water between sedge tussocks, the shape and height of which depend on the depth of flooding (Alekseyev, Abramova, 1980). Communities of the var. Menyanthes trifoliata occupy the poorest habitats among studied black alder forests. The distribution of Alnus glutinosa dominated forests in the Moscow Region is due to the landscape structure, which determines habitat environment. Ass. Urtico dioicae–Alnetum glutinosae are mainly distributed in the north of the study area (on the Upper Volga Lowland) and in the west (on the Moscow Upland), while herb-swamp alder carrs of ass. Carici elongatae–Alnetum glutinosae are more common on the lowlands: the Upper Volga in north and the Meshchera in the east. When the hydrological regime of the territory changes, a transformation of one syntaxon to another is possible, that, for example, was recorded in the Priokso-Terrasny Nature Reserve as a result of beaver activity (Andreeva, Mikaleva, 2012).

Forests with predominance of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) within the hemiboreal zone are considered as secondary communities formed under long-term human activity (logging, plowing, fires and silviculture). This study raises the question—how stable is current state of coniferous forests on the southern border of their natural distribution in the center of Eastern Europe using the example of the Moscow region (MR)? The object of the study are spruce and pine forests in different periods of Soviet and post-Soviet history within the Moscow Region (MR). The current proportion of spruce forests is 21.7%, and the proportion of pine forests is 18.5% from total forest area according to our estimates. The direction and rate of forest succession were analyzed based on current composition of populations of the main forest-forming species (spruce, pine, birch, aspen, oak, linden, and ash) based on ground-based research materials collected in 2006–2019. This allowed to develop the dynamic model (DM) of forest communities with the participation of Norway spruce and Scots pine for several decades. Assessment of the spatial distribution of coniferous communities is based on field data and spatial modeling using remote sensing data—Landsat 8 mosaic for 2020. In parallel, a retrospective model (RM) of the spatial-temporal organization of spruce and pine forests for a 30-year period was developed using two Landsat 5 mosaics. For this, nine different algorithms were tested and the best one for this task was found—random forest. Geobotanical relevés were used as a training sample combined with the 2006–2012 mosaic; the obtained spectral signatures were used for modeling based on the 1984–1990 mosaic. Thus, two multi-temporal spatial models of coniferous formations have been developed. Detailed analysis of the structure of spruce and pine forests based on field data made it possible to track trends of successional dynamics for the first time, considering the origin of communities and the ecological conditions of habitats. As a result, ideas about the viability of spruce and pine cenopopulations in different types of communities were formulated, which made possible to develop a dynamic model (DM) of changes in forest communities for future. Comparison of the areas and nature of changes in the spatial structure of coniferous formations made possible to develop the RM. Comparison of two different-time models of succession dynamics (DM and RM) makes possible to correct the main trends in the transformation of coniferous forests of natural and artificial origin under the existing regime of forestry. A set of features was identified that indicates risk factors for coniferous forests in the region. A further decrease of the spruce and pine plantations and increase of the spruce-small-leaved and deciduous formations are expected in the study area. The proportion of pine-spruce forests does not exceed 3% of the area and can be considered as the most vulnerable type of forest.

The analysis of thematic literature and herbariums of fruticose epigenous lichens of Bryoria genus from 186 points in the Moscow region showed that currently eight Bryoria species range in the Moscow region, mostly on spruce (Picea abies) branches, and sometimes on Betula pendula and Salix caprea. Healthy growth of Bryoria lichens in the region is only possible under a combination of microclimate and habitat factors, i. e. sufficiently high air humidity in the surface layer, minimum air pollution, absence of harmful pollutants and high PPM concentrations, particular types of plant community, preservation of old-growth forests, and suitable phorophyte, or tree species, as a substrate. Schemes in the article demonstrate locations with maximum numbers of Bryoria species finds per 100 km2, as well as individual finds of the genus species within the study area. The maximum Bryoria diversity is in Mozhaysk, Klin, Ruza and Lotoshino districts. There are no large polluters there, and the air quality is high according to environment monitoring data, with the lowest levels of pollutants and dust particles. Bryoria vrangiana, B. nadvornikiana, B. osteola and B. simplicior are the rarest species of Bryoria in the Moscow region. Bryoria species, especially the rarest ones, concentrate in the northwestern and northern parts of the region. The lichens are ecologically associated with damp and swampy spruce and spruce with birch and aspen old-growth forests and forest plantations, and the edge parts of transitory and raised forest bogs. Lichen thalluses sometimes reach maximum size (25 cm) within these habitats and are often found in large groups of two to three species. This fact indicates a favorable environmental situation in this part of the Moscow region. All discovered Bryoria species are in the Red Book of the Moscow region and require protection and further investigation.

The article analyzes the ecology and distribution of species of genera: Bryoria Brodo et D. Hawksw., Ramalina Ach., Usnea Dill. ex Adans., found in Moscow region and listed in the red book of the region (2018). It is based onliterature materials and monitoring data that we conducted as part of the «Verkhovye» Nature protection Fund in 2010–2019.In the period from 1906 to 1995, a greater number of Ramalina species were cited for Moscow region than at present,some of the finds of Usnea species were made on the outskirts of Moscow and in the near Moscow region, meanwhile thedistribution of genus Bryoria was not studied. Currently, the most favorable conditions for the development of lichens areformed in the North, West and North-West of the Moscow region, where the largest number of finds of various specieswith maximum abundance is noted. In the South-east, their settlement is probably hindered by dust, increased dryness ofthe air and the presence of harmful compounds in the atmosphere. In their distribution, lichens prefer intact habitats withhigh humidity and minimal air pollution: large fragments of preserved protected old-growth forests (spruce and sprucesmall-leaved), swampy forests and forest swamps.For the most common species with a high abundance (Bryoria fuscescens (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw. и B. capillaris (Ach.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., Usnea hirta (L.) Weber ex F. H. Wigg.и др.), it is possible to track the dynamics ofchanges in the environment. The rarest species are recommended to keep category 1–2 in the Red book of the Moscow region (Bryoria nadvornikiana (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., B. vrangiana (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., B. osteola(Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., Usnea lapponica Vain. и др.).

The territories located near the administrative boundaries of the subjects of the federation are often relatively intact and are of interest in conservation terms. This is largely due to their poor availability, due to which communities with a significant concentration of rare and protected species are found here. Often, regional protected natural areas are confined to such border territories. A number of examples of the functioning of protected areas of various status and categories near the borders of the Moscow region and the possibility of creating adjacent protected areas of various dimensions and categories in neighboring subjects of the federation are considered.

A regional assessment of the Crimean-Novorossiysk orobiome, which is considered a reference unit for the inventory and analysis of mountainous biodiversity, is based on the concept of ecosystem diversity. The altitudinal zonal structure of the vegetation cover is studied on the example of the Utrish–Tuapse geographic variant of the orobiome associated with the northwestern Caucasus, in accordance with which the spatial differentiation of flora and plant communities is formed. A quantitative substantiation of the biota and abiotic parameters characterizing the botanical and geographical uniqueness of the orobiome is given. The spectrum of altitudinal zonality of vegetation is determined, a quantitative assessment of floristic diversity by zones is given, and some features of the spatial structure of the diversity of communities in the mountainous area are shown.

East European forests dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) in the broad-leaved–coniferous zone should be considered as secondary communities formed under the influence of centuries-long activities (logging, fires and planting) and extended outside their natural range. The study raises an issue—how stable is the current state of Norway spruce forests in the center of the Russian plain and what is the effect of silviculture on the forest cover of the large urban agglomeration—the Moscow Region? Current study is based on multidisciplinary research and consequently concerns the age dynamics of spruce plantation forests, the species and typological diversity of mature spruce forests and spatial pattern of spruce forests along the south edge of their range. The composition and structure of Norway spruce plantations have been studied for various age classes and compared with mature natural spruce forests and pine plantations on the basis of field data. Remote sensing data and modeling approach were applied to estimate the spatial structure of spruce forests. It is found that mature plantations (over 80 years) become similar to natural forests in terms of structure and composition. The relationship between the distribution of spruce formations and the climatic and geomorphological conditions are confirmed. The proportion of spruce and spruce–aspen/birch communities follows the pattern of zones—the transition from the coniferous and broad-leaved forest zone to the broad-leaved forest zone. Despite the significant anthropogenic impact and the high proportion of plantations in the composition of Norway spruce forests (about 60–80%), their floristic and typological diversities correspond to such properties of zonal broad-leaved–coniferous communities. Over-matured plantations can provide valuable habitats for the re-establishment of native typological diversity. This makes it possible to use silviculture stands as an accelerated alternative to the natural recovery of disturbed habitats.

The article describes patterns in the spatial organization of landscapes and vegetation on the Abrau Peninsula within the Utrish State Nature Reserve and the adjacent territory. The use of ecological and topological profiling and large-scale mapping of the vegetation and landscapes made it possible to evaluate the spatial diversity of unique sub-Mediterranean ecosystems with respect to geological and geomorphological conditions, including the elevation, exposure and steepness of the slopes, as well as climate and sea effects. The specificity of the environmental conditions at different altitudes is reflected in the structure of phytocenotic diversity, which leads to the formation of two altitudinal sub-belts of the coastal belt and a change in typological composition of forest, woodlands, and shrub communities at different levels of phytocatenas.