Трансформация галофитной растительности Сердобского солонца (Сердобский район, Пензенская область)

Abstract

Halophytic vegetation is very rare in the forest-steppe zone. It was studied in the tract Serdobsky solonetsin the vicinity of Serdobsk (Serdobsky district, Penza region). The studies were conducted in the years 2009–2018, using the technique of geobotanical profiling. 80 trial areas were laid (35 in 2009 and 45 in 2008). Ecological and phytocenotic classification of plant communities is performed on the dominant principle. Comparison of two descriptions of vegetation with an interval of 10 years allows us to trace the transformation of halophytic vegetation after intensive anthropogenic impact (grazing and partial plowing) in different environmental conditions. The flora of Serdobsky solonets consists of 179 species of vascular plants, of which 13 species are included in the Red book of the Penza region (2013). The share of halophytic vegetation on the territory of Serdobsky solonetshas changed over 10 years: from 97.0 % to 63.8 %. Moreover, halophyte meadows occupied 67.0 % and halophyte steppes 30.0 % of the area in 2009. Now (2018) halophytic steppes make up 30.8 %, and halophytic meadows 33.0 %.The main stages of demutation of halophytic steppe and meadow vegetation were identified in various environmental conditions (meadows and steppes). The same stages of demutation were identified earlier for the South-Eastern Solonets (Neverskinsky district of the Penza region). However, a special stage of annual saline grasslands has been identified.This place requires protection due to the high level of floral and phytocenotic diversity. We offer to organize here a natural monument called “Serdobsky solonets”.