Small-leaved herbaceous forests in galley and ravine systems of Priobskoe plateau (West Siberia)

Small-leaved forests of the galley and ravine systems on the Priobskoe plateau (West Siberia) belong to the Brachypodio pinnati–Betuletea pendulae class and the Calamagrostio epigei–Betuletalia pendulae order. All forest types were classified according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. Three new associations and four subassociations were described. Floristic composition presented by mixture of forest, meadow and steppe species reveals the geographical position and the environmental conditions of forest habitats. Forest distribution depends on the slope exposition and steepness. In spite of strong anthropogenic pressure many of forest patches could be considered as refuges of natural biodiversity in forest-steppe zone.