Structure of Collembolan populations (Hexapoda, Collembola) in low-mountain coniferous forests of Southern Siberia

A total of 108 species of Collembola have been found in seven types of low-mountain coniferous forests in Southern Siberia, 16 species being probably new to science. The springtail populations of subnemoral smallleaved-dark coniferous forests (the so-called “chern” or tall-grass fir-aspen forests) are considered. Such forests are present only in the Altai-Sayan mountain system and have been studied in the Salair Range, Kuznetskii Alatau, and Northeast Altai. Data on piedmont pine forests (the Nazarovskaya Hollow) are used for comparison. The springtail community in the chern forests of Kuznetskii Alatau is the most specific (61 species) and characterized by the presence of conventional endemics and the prevalence of Siberian mountain-taiga species. The range types and latitudezonal groups of species are characterized.