Assessment of coenopopulations Epipactis atrorubens in nature reserves of Republic of Bashkortostan

Abstract

The effective conservation of rare species is possible in specially protected natural areas. The article presents the results of coenopopulations monitoring and assessing the state by demographic and vitality indicators of dremlik dark red (Epipactis atrorubens) family Orchidaceae in three reserves of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The geobotanical descriptions were carried out on a nine-point modified scale of Brown-Blanke. The ecological conditions of the habitats were assessed by the composition of species in plant communities using the ecological scales of Ellenberg. The assessment of the vitality of coenopopulations was carried out according to the size range of individuals (IVC). The studied coenopopulations grow on steep slopes, underlain by carbonate rocks, in dry pine forests and pine-birch forests. The number of individuals in coenopopulations is small, from 76 to 600 individuals; more than 4 thousand individuals were recorded in a favorable year in the Bashkir State Nature Reserve. Over a number of years for coenopopulations are characterized by significant fluctuations in the number, density, vitality of individuals and age spectra, which is associated with the prevailing influence of weather conditions on the growth and development of individuals. The average age spectra of coenopopulations are complete and incomplete, right-sided, with a predominance of generative and vegetative individuals. A decrease in the total number of individuals in some years by 3.0-6.5 times for E. atrorubens is not critical. Under protection conditions coenopopulations are in a satisfactory and stable condition.