Table 1 Main groups of vegetation and soils studied.
Geothermal features (soil pits) | Vegetation | Soils | T, °C at depths of 15/50 cm | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Picture | Communities | Protected species | |||
Zone I Non-heated. Without geothermal influences, soils warmed only by solar power (14–16) |
| Tall herb communities and local areas of Betula ermanii | Lycopus uniflorus | Non-heated Eutrosilic Silandic Andosols (Arenic) of smectite-plagioclase composition on monogenous sandy pyroclastic material |  < 25/ < 30 |
Zone II Slightly heated. Little inflow of hot fluids (10–13) |
| Modified tall herb communities | Agrostis geminate, Ophioglossum thermale, (Fimbristylis ochotensis), Lycopus uniflorus | Slightly heated Eutrosilic Aluandic Andosols (Loamic, Natric) of feldspar-quartz-plagioclase-smectite composition on hydrothermally altered heterogenous sandy-loamy pyroclastic material | 25–40/34–50 |
Zone III Moderately heated. Intensive inflow of hot fluids (4–9) |
| Predominantly Agrostis geminata and fragmentary Fimbristyleta ochotensis formations, moss communities | Agrostis geminate, Fimbristylis ochotensis, Lycopus uniflorus | Moderately heated Eutrosilic Gleyic Aluandic Andosols (Loamic, Reductic, Protosalic, Hyperthionic) of kaolinite-smectite composition on hydrothermally altered clayey pyroclastic material | 40–80/80–98 |
Zone IV Hot spot. Very intensive inflow of hot fluids (1–4) |
| Primitive vegetation, moss communities | Agrostis geminate, Fimbristylis ochotensis, Lycopus uniflorus | Hot Gleyic Aluandic Andosols (Clayic, Reductic, Salic, Hyperthionic) of kaolinite composition on hydrothermal clays | 80–100/ > 98 |
