Spatial variability of green mass of herbaceous plants on mount Mogutova (Samarskaja luka)

Spatial regularities in distribution of the green mass of herbaceous plants main communities at Mount Mogutova within the Zhiguli low mountains are studied using multiple regression methods. It is shown that 81% of this variability is due to direct environmental factors - soil acidity and humidity. At the same time, 77% of the green mass variability is explained by topography, as well as the direct environmental factors themselves (from 69 to 83%). The role of topography in spatial differentia- tion of direct-acting factors is substantiated.