On the ecology of lawn communities in the cities of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia

Abstract

This article provides information on the ecology of lawn communities in the cities of the Urals of the Republic of Bashkortostan (Ufa, Sterlitamak, Salavat, Ishimbay, Meleuz, Birsk, Neftekamsk, Yanaul). On the basis of 195 relevés, the ecological regimes of lawn communities and their species were determined using the ecological scales of Landolt. DCA ordination of the relevés confirmed their floristic differentiation into 4 associations, 2 subassociations, and 5 facies assigned to the alliance Cynosurion cristati of the class Molinio–Arrhenatheretea. The main contribution to the differentiation of communities is made by the thermoclimatic factor, soil moisture and nutrient regimes. The ranges of values of environmental factors of the lawn communities are determined. When conditions deteriorate, there is a succession of lawn communities from subass. typicum of the ass. Leontodono–Poetum pratensis via the subass. cichorietosum intybi of the same association to the ass. Poo pratensis– Plantaginetum majoris. At the same time, species diversity first increases due to the invassion of synanthropic species, and then decreases. Lawns considered to belong to synanthropized vegetation when the number of synanthropic species reaches 56–63 %. Along with traditional herbal mixtures with Poa pratensis, herbal mixtures with Festuca rubra and Lolium perenne are recommended, the combination of which better corresponds to a fairly wide range of environmental conditions of the Urals. Regular maintenance, watering and mowing are also necessary, which extend the life of the lawns.