Effects of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations on plant diversity in Northern Mongolia

This study was carried out in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations that were previously established in West Khentii Mountains of Northern Mongolia. In this study, species composition, richness, diversity and plant cover changes among planted forests with different plantation ages were analyzed. We found an obvious difference of species composition between natural stands and plantations. Our findings revealed continuous changes in vascular plant composition among plantations by increasing light-demanding species. A number of species from forest and forest-meadow mesophytes were replaced with xerophytes from forest-steppe and steppe. Current profound changes in species composition and a stable existence of invasive plant species from different ecological groups have a tendency to be stored during the initial stage of forest plantation establishment. The strong effect of planted trees on the growing environment appeared rather late, and has intensified since 15 years after the plantation establishment.