Floristic and geobotanic features of the renaturalization process of Ust’-Sokskiy quarry

Abstract

Studies devoted to artificial reclamation and natural renaturalization of the open cuts are important because of the distribution of the nonmetallic open-cut mining in the Middle Volga. The following article contains the results of floristic and geobotanical study of the Ust-Sokskiy quarry, where the secondary plantation has been forming for the last 40 years after calciferous stock mining and quarrying. At present overgrowing Ust-Sokskiy quarry is used as a natural testing field for exploration of the secondary anthropogenic successions, ecological, anatomical, morphological, physiological, biochemical and biogeochemical peculiarities of plants. 107 species of the vascular plants belonging to 83 genera, 35 families, 5 classes and 4 phyla were fixed in the quarry. 6 species from the Red Book of Samara Region were found in the composition of the local flora. Species penetration to the quarry is realized by dissemination from the nearest natural phytocenoses of Sokolii Mountains. Local flora of the quarry is significantly poorer than that of the Sokolii Mountains and differed by species composition that is explained by abiotic conditions specifics which are inherent to the technologically disturbed territory. Herbaceous and woody plants of the quarry are characterized by depressed vital condition. Modern local flora of the quarry is unbalanced and the process of its forming is continued.