P. V. Akatov
Maikop State Technological University, ul. Pervomaiskaya 191, Maikop, 385000 Russia;
e-mail: akatovmgti@mail.ru
Received February 26, 2008
Abstract—To estimate the response of tree vegetation to recent climate warming in the Western Caucasus, the
population state of several tree species at the upper limit of their distribution has been estimated in three moun-
tain massifs in the Belaya River basin. For this purpose, the average and maximum stem diameters, vitality, and
age of trees have been determined in the transitional zone between middle-mountain and high-mountain beech–
fir forests (1400–1700 m a.s.l.) and in crooked birch forests growing at the upper timberline (1810–2025 m).
The upper limits of Acer platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus, Ulmus glabra, and Betula litwinowii have shown a
tendency to rise. The upper limit of Abies nordmanniana has remained unchanged over the past few decades,
which may be explained by a decrease in moisture supply during the warm season.
DOI: 10.1134/S1067413609010056
Key words: climate change, tree species, upper timberline, stem diameter, age, tree vitality, Western Caucasus.
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