Ecological Amplitude Research Articles

Impact of growing conditions on vegetation, development and reproductive success of <i>Orchis purpurea</i> Huds. in the South-Eastern Crimea

The individual and population parameters of lady orchis — Orchis purpurea Huds. (Orchidaceae) under different growing conditions are compared. The onthogenetic type of cenopopulations, age, efficiency, recovery indices, vitality of individuals, plasticity index are determined. The largest number of plants is noted in forest communities. Demographical and morphological parameters differ nonsignificantly. Slight fluctuations in the vitality of individuals are noted depending on the habitat and the conditions of the growing season. The pollination success of plants in steppe biotopes is much higher than that in forest biotopes: the average fruit set in steppe biotopes was 39.63 %, in forest biotopes — 4.97—5.84 %. However, it did not affect reproductive success, the main indicator of which is the presence of new generations of plants: in all studied cenopopulations, a high proportion of individuals of the pregenerative period was noted. It is established that O. purpurea has a wide ecological amplitude and high adaptability to various conditions. It can grow in different habitats without changing morphological, demographic and ontogenetic parameters.

Ecology of arbuscular mycorrhizal association in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) palms: Analysis of factors influencing AMF in fields

This study is the first thorough ecological analysis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) diversity in randomly selected traditional coconut fields across Kerala, South India. We conducted a critical analysis of AMF diversity, percentage root length colonization (PRLC), and mean spore density (MSD) across 248 sites, taking into account variations in plant, environmental, and soil factors like coconut varieties, palm health conditions, agroclimatic zones, soil types, and seasons in the region. A total of 23 AMF species from seven genera (Acaulospora, Archaeospora, Funneliformis, Glomus, Sclerocystis, Septoglomus, and Scutellospora) were identified, with Acaulospora scrobiculata being the dominant species in all studied fields. A critical analysis of diversity indices, including the Shannon-Weiner Index, Simpson's diversity index, and Gini-Simpson index, concerning variables indicated that soil series influences AMF diversity in specific fields. Correlational and principal component analyses highlighted the interrelationships between specific soil types and quality parameters affecting AMF characteristics, underscoring their crucial role in coconut palm growth. The study also revealed the ecological amplitudes of indigenous AMF species related to specific soil fertility parameters. Overall, this research serves as a model for identifying root- and soil-specific AMF in agricultural fields and provides valuable ecological insights for utilizing indigenous AMF species as ecotechnological tools for sustainable coconut cultivation.

AGE STRUCTURE OF RHAPONTICUM SERRATULOIDES (GEORGI) BOBR. POPULATIONS. IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL KAZAKHSTAN

The article presents the results of studying the ontogenetic structure of seven cenopopulations of Rhaponticum serratuloides in Karaganda and Akmola regions of Kazakhstan (Northern and Central Kazakhstan). The majority of surveyed cenopopulations belong to normal incomplete populations. Their ontogenetic structure has two main types of spectrum - centered two-vertex spectrum, where the maximum falls on virginal and middle-generative individuals, as well as left-sided spectrum with predominance of pre-generative individuals. The condition of cenopopulations was assessed using the "delta-omega" criterion of L. A. Zhivotovsky. According to this criterion, most of the cenopopulations are mature (CP 1-2, CP 4-5), only two (CP6 and CP7) are young. The presence of a significant number of young plants in CP6 indicates its high capacity for maintenance and self-restoration. In CP7, unfavorable conditions prevailed and potentially generative plants remained in virginile age state. CP3 occupies an intermediate position between mature and young populations. In all cenopopulations there was almost complete absence of senile and sub-senile individuals, and only in some of them - deposition of juvenile and immature individuals. Incompleteness of cenopopulations is associated with increasing anthropogenic load and narrow ecological amplitude of Rh. serratuloides.

Relationship between potentially toxic elements and macrophyte communities in the Sava river

Freshwater ecosystems are at significant risk of contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) due to their high inherent toxicity, their persistence in the environment and their tendency to bioaccumulate in sediments and living organisms. We investigated aquatic macrophyte communities and the concentrations of As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni and Fe in water and sediment samples to identify a pollution pattern along the Sava River and to investigate the potential impact of these PTEs on the diversity and structure of macrophyte communities. The study, which covered 945 km of the Sava River, showed a downstream increase in sediment concentrations of the analyzed elements. Both species richness and alpha diversity of macrophyte communities also generally increase downstream. Ordinary and partial Mantel tests indicate that macrophyte communities are significantly correlated with sediment chemistry, but only weakly correlated with water chemistry. In the lowland regions (downstream), beta diversity decreases successively, which can be attributed to an increasing similarity of environmental conditions at downstream sites. Species richness is relatively low at sites with low concentrations of Cr, Cd, Fe, and Cu in the sediment. However, species richness increases to a certain extent with increasing element concentrations; as element concentrations increase further, species richness decreases, probably as a result of increased toxicity. Some species that are generally more tolerant to high concentrations of PTEs are: Ceratophyllum demersum, Iris pseudacorus, Najas marina, Butomus umbellatus, Vallisneria spiralis, Potamogeton gramineus and Bolboschoenus maritimus maritimus. Potamogeton perfoliatus and the moss species Cinclidotus fontinaloides and Fontinalis antipyretica have narrow ecological amplitudes in relation to the concentrations of PTEs in the sediment.

Features of the structure of the herbaceous cover and natural regeneration in the spruce forests of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve

The aim of the study was to identify the features of the structure of the herbaceous cover and natural regeneration in the southern taiga spruce forests of the Kostroma region using the example of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve. To achieve this goal, twelve temporary square sample plots (SP) with an area of 0.0625 ha were established. Forest type, canopy density, soil and topography were determined. To characterize the forest stands, a taxonomic survey of the sample plots was carried out. To describe the vegetation cover, a combined method was used, including the Braun-Blanke and Drude-Uranov methods, which assumes the distribution of typical plant complexes over a large number of plant species growing together. Geobotanical descriptions were processed according to the method of D.N. Tsyganov, which consisted in using two tables: ecological amplitudes of species and scales of factors. Correlation analysis was used for data processing. The obtained statistical data set was presented in histograms and graphs for the sake of clarity. The frequency of occurrence, errors, participation rate, and average projective cover of the species were calculated according to generally accepted methods. In the course of the work, all sample plots were characterized by a tree-by-tree census. As the sample plots were located in very different parts of the reserve, the taxonomic indicators varied. In most cases, however, the dominant species was spruce. Its viable regrowth was 95%, indicating a high renewal potential. In the studied forest areas, the dominant species of the living ground cover were Northern linseed (Linnaea borealis) and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) and wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella). The practical significance of the conducted research lies in the expansion of the ideas about the structure of the herbaceous cover formed under the canopy of spruce forests in the conditions of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve, as well as about the peculiarities of the process of natural regeneration in different conditions of the growth site.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND NRDNA-ITS SEQUENCES-BASED IDENTIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF VOLVOPLUTEUS EARLEI IN PAKISTAN

Volvopluteus is represented by seven species distributed in America, Asia and Europe. They occur in the tropical regions growing as saprobes on wood debris and leaves, in grassy fields and forests. To explore the macrofungal diversity, different localities in Punjab were visited and collections were made. Among these several collections were found similar to Volvopluteus species. They were analyzed morphologically and phylogenetically using ITS sequences of nrDNA. Comparative analysis on the basis of morphological and anatomical features revealed that these collections represent V. earlei . Maximum likelihood phylogeny also showed the position of current sequences in a same clade with already known V. earlei sequences with 74% bootstrap value. Volvopluteus earlei is being described from different areas of Pakistan with variety of climatic conditions from warm semi-arid climate of Kasur, Lahore and Sheikhupura districts, humid subtropical climate of Sialkot district, in Punjab and warm semi-arid to humid subtropical climate of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The occurrence of V. earlei in different climatic zones represents its wide distribution range and ecological amplitude in the country.

INDICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE DENDROFLORA COMPOSITION IN DIFFERENT ZONES OF THE PRYRICHKOVYI PARK IN POLTAVA

The dendroflora of the Pryrichkovyi Park in Poltava and the correspondence of woody plant species composition to environmental conditions were studied by analyzing the amplitude of the leading environmental factors.Twelve species of deciduous trees have been identified, the representatives of seven genera of six families of the order Angiospermae, or Magnoliophyta. The highest Margalef index was calculated in zone 1, and the highest dominance index in zone 3. In all three park zones, 6 species of trees are represented – 2 Acer sp., 2 Populus sp., Salix alba, and Tilia cordata. The Sørensen-Czekanovsky index indicates the greatest similarity in the species composition of trees between zones 1–2 and 2–3 and the least similarity between zones 1 and 3.The lowest light index (Lc) was calculated for zone 2, where the tree density is the highest. The high-light-tolerant species – Robinia pseudoacacia and Betula pendula – grow in zone 1 (with a high recreational load). The soil moisture range (Hd) tolerance is the greatest for Populus tremulae, which is common in all three park zones. The lowest soil aeration index (Ae) in zone 1 is explained by its greatest compaction due to recreational load. The soil acidity index (Rc) increases in zone 3, where willows and poplars grow.Analysis of the ecological amplitudes of certain indicators confirms that environmental conditions in all park zones are favorable for the majority of presented tree species. Therefore, the analysis of the environmental amplitudes is recommended to use when assessing new species for planting. The data obtained make it possible to continue the study of the condition of the most common tree species and resistance to natural and anthropogenic factors of their damage and injury, in particular, recreation, vehicle emissions, phytophagous insects, and pathogens.

Identifying drivers of non-stationary climate-growth relationships of European beech

The future performance of the widely abundant European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) across its ecological amplitude is uncertain. Although beech is considered drought-sensitive and thus negatively affected by drought events, scientific evidence indicating increasing drought vulnerability under climate change on a cross-regional scale remains elusive. While evaluating changes in climate sensitivity of secondary growth offers a promising avenue, studies from productive, closed-canopy forests suffer from knowledge gaps, especially regarding the natural variability of climate sensitivity and how it relates to radial growth as an indicator of tree vitality. Since beech is sensitive to drought, we in this study use a drought index as a climate variable to account for the combined effects of temperature and water availability and explore how the drought sensitivity of secondary growth varies temporally in dependence on growth variability, growth trends, and climatic water availability across the species' ecological amplitude.Our results show that drought sensitivity is highly variable and non-stationary, though consistently higher at dry sites compared to moist sites. Increasing drought sensitivity can largely be explained by increasing climatic aridity, especially as it is exacerbated by climate change and trees' rank progression within forest communities, as (co-)dominant trees are more sensitive to extra-canopy climatic conditions than trees embedded in understories. However, during the driest periods of the 20th century, growth showed clear signs of being decoupled from climate. This may indicate fundamental changes in system behavior and be early-warning signals of decreasing drought tolerance. The multiple significant interaction terms in our model elucidate the complexity of European beech's drought sensitivity, which needs to be taken into consideration when assessing this species' response to climate change.

Role of Provenance Trials in the Study of Population Differentiation

Wide distribution of many Linnean species across climatic, edaphic and biotic barriers may be either due to a wide ecological amplitude of the species as such, or to the presence of a number of distinct local populations, well adapted to the respective ecoclimates. These populations may show continuous variation along an envirormental gradient (ecocline) or discontinuous variation (ecotypes). The morphological or physiological adaptive characters are genetically fixed. Although a number of genecological techniques have been developed in the recent past, to differentiate such ecologic populations, the provenance trial technique has gained much importance. In the present communication the technique as well as some important results obtained through its use, both within and outside India, have been briefly discussed.

Ecological amplitude and indication potential of mining bees (Andrena spp.): a case study from the post-agricultural area of the Kampinos National Park (Poland)

The mining bee (Andrena spp.) play a key role in ensuring plant and animal diversity. The present study examines their diversity in a post-agricultural landscape exemplified by the Kampinos National Park (KNP), a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Poland. The following hypotheses were addressed: (H1) the mining bees demonstrate a narrow ecological amplitude, (H2) there are no indicator species for particular habitats, and (H3) the studied mining bees have the same ecological preferences to those presented in the literature. A total of 40 catch per unit effort samples (CPUE) were collected across various habitats with different soil humidity. Forty-six species were recorded, representing 46% of mining bees and approximately 10% of the known Polish bee fauna. Nineteen of the recorded species (41%) were assigned to CR-NT threat categories, indicating that the national park plays a significant role in preserving mining bee species diversity and their conservation. None of the hypotheses (H1, H2, H3) were confirmed. The mining bees were found to demonstrate a wide ecological amplitude. Surprisingly, habitats located in dry and wet soils were both characterised by high abundance and species richness. Seventeen indicators were distinguished among the dominant and rarer species. Our findings suggest that Andrena nigroaenea and A. ventralis (lower humidity), as well as A. alfkenella and A. minutuloides (higher humidity), have different significant relationships with habitat soil humidity to those reported in the literature.

Distribution patterns and driving factors of mixed-ploidy Actinidia species in China

Polyploidization is an important driver for species formation and adaptive evolution, which results in mixed-ploidy species in the nature, i.e., one species contains at least two cytotypes. Understanding the driving factors of mixed-ploidy species offer unique insights into unraveling the evolutionary mechanisms of polyploid species. Here we investigated the distribution patterns and driving factors of 40 Actinidia species in China. Polyploid Actinidia species formed from whole-genome duplication (WGD). Actinidia species showed a mosaic geographic pattern. The potential range of mixed-ploidy Actinidia species is significantly larger than diploid and polyploid species, with higher ecological amplitude of longitude, latitude and elevation. Mixed-ploidy species showed wider temperature and water niches than diploid and polyploid species, and the tolerate capacity of mixed-ploidy species to climate extremes increased with ploidy diversity. Polyploid Actinidia species occupied niches of high altitude, low temperature and drought, supporting the niche shift hypothesis to explain the survival of polyploids. Ploidy diversity and mixed-ploidy effect was positively correlated with the ecological amplitude of temperature. Our results support that the formation and distribution of polyploidy species are associated with climate factors and adaptation capacity to abiotic stresses, and highlight the importance of mixed-ploidy species in the species formation and adaptive evolution.

Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.): Central Europe's keystone species 'hiding in plain sight'.

Knowledge of Eurasian aspen's (Populus tremula L.) ecological and growth characteristics is of high importance to plant and wildlife community ecology, and noncommercial forest ecosystem services. This research assessed these characteristics, identified aspen's habitat optimum, and examined causality of its current scarce distribution in central Europe. We analyzed a robust database of field measurements (4,656,130 stands) for forest management planning over 78,000 km2 of the Czech territory. Our analysis we used GIS techniques, with basic and multivariate statistics such as general linear models, ordination, and classification. Results describe a species of broad ecological amplitude that has heretofore attracted little research attention. Spatial analysis showed significant differences between aspen and other forest non-forest cover types. Additionally, we found significant association between the proportion of aspen in a stand, the size of forest property, and the forest category. The results demonstrate historic reasons for aspen's widespread presence, though contemporary occurrence is limited. This study advances the concept of a quantitatively based aspen ecological optimum (niche), which we believe may be beneficial for numerous aspen associates in the context of anticipated warming. Irrespective of local ecology (i.e., the realized aspen niche), the study confirms that profit-driven policy in forestry is chiefly responsible for historic aspen denudation in central Europe. Even so, we demonstrate that ample habitat is present. Further solutions for improving aspen resilience are provided to support these keystone systems so vital to myriad dependent flora and fauna.

Description, identification, and growth of Tuber borchii Vittad. mycorrhized Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings on different lime contents.

Tuber borchii forms ectomycorrhiza with oaks, hazel, and pines, including Pinus sylvestris. However, its ectomycorrhiza morphotype with P. sylvestris was not comprehensively described so far, and molecular analyses are missing despite a high danger of misidentification of T. borchii ectomycorrhiza with other closely related and less valuable truffle species. We described for the first time the morphology and anatomy of T. borchii-P. sylvestris ectomycorrhiza using differential interference contrast technique and semi-thin sections in combination with molecular confirmation of identity. Color of ectomycorrhiza is reddish to dark brown, and morphotypes are unevenly but densely covered by warts-bearing pin-like cystidia. All layers of the hyphal mantle are pseudoparenchymatous with outer mantle layer formed of epidermoid cells. T. borchii ectomycorrhiza was identified by a molecular comparison with fruitbodies used for inoculation and its respective ectomycorrhizae. T. borchii has a wide ecological amplitude. To get a better insight in mycorrhization requirements, we investigated growth of P. sylvestris and its ectomycorrhiza infection rate with T. borchii in substrate with different lime content. The mycorrhization of P. sylvestris with T. borchii in the mycorrhization substrate and cultivation in greenhouse conditions was successful, with colonization of P. sylvestris varying between 36.5 and 48.1%. There was no significant correlation of mycorrhization to applied lime contents, and consequently to pH in substrate, while the increased levels of lime improved growth of the P. sylvestris seedlings.

The genus Phellodon (Thelephorales, Basidiomycota) in Europe: Four new species, one new combination, four new typifications and a first European record

Phellodon is a globally distributed genus of stipitate hydnoid fungi recognised by a white spore print and an ectomycorrhizal life strategy. In Europe, many Phellodon species have declining populations and are used as indicators of forests with high conservation values. However, their use in this context and the correct assessment of their extinction risk, according to IUCN guidelines, are currently hampered by inconsistent name usage and unclear species delimitations, primarily within the species complexes of P. melaleucus, P. niger and P. tomentosus. We analysed 286 ITS sequences of Phellodon, of which 51 were also analysed in conjunction with the corresponding LSU regions. This work included 102 newly sequenced collections, primarily sourced from Sweden and the UK. Our phylogenetic results show that four species are new to science and hence we formally describe P. castaneoleucus within the P. melaleucus morphological complex, P. aquiloniniger and P. frondosoniger within the P. niger complex and P. dititomentosus as a sister species to P. tomentosus. The combination P. melilotinus is made to accommodate an additional, previously described, species that belongs in the P. niger complex. We designate lectotypes and epitypes for P. melaleucus, P. niger and P. tomentosus as well as an epitype for P. melilotinus. Phellodon ellisianus is recorded as new to Europe and the ecological amplitude of P. secretus and P. violaceus is revealed to be wider than previously believed. We provide a key to all 13 species currently known in Europe and assign them to three habitat-based assemblages based on data from the Nordic countries and the UK. We hope this will facilitate the assessment of such habitats for legal protection and other conservation-related actions.

The impact of northern red oak (Quercus rubra; Fagaceae) on the forest phytodiversity in Ukraine

The impact of Quercus rubra on the plant diversity of native forests of Ukraine has been investigated. The plant communities of artificial plantations dominated by northern red oak have such general features as poor species composition, with projective coverage values of other species not exceeding 5%, and a simplified vertical structure of the tree layers. In natural forest plant communities with the participation of Q. rubra, there are no rare and typical nemoral dominant species, which results in disruption of consortial relations in ecosystems. Such changes are due to the biological and ecological peculiarities of this species, in particular, its dense crown, abundant biomass of leaves, which reduces lighting, and allelopathic properties; all those factors affect the physical and chemical characteristics of biotopes. Quercus rubra artificial plantations are more adaptive to changes of natural conditions and are able to withstand harsher winters and lack of precipitation. The ecological amplitude of this species is wide, and even with an increase in the average annual temperature by 3 °C most of the ecological indicators do not go beyond the optimum zone of the species, except for the soil moisture and thermal regime. The amplitudes of main indicators of ecological factors of temperate forests and Q. rubra artificial plantations overlap. The dominance of Q. rubra reduces the quality of ecosystem services of native forests. The high competitive advantages of Q. rubra are the reason for the impossibility of natural restoration of the typical broad-leaved or coniferous forests on those land plots where they were replaced by artificial plantations of northern red oak or its tree layers were formed as the results of the spontaneous distribution of this species. In the successions, the communities with the participation of northern red oak are potentially able to replace the native forest phytocoenoses.

Biodiversity patterns of cyanobacterial oligotypes in lakes and rivers: results of a large-scale metabarcoding survey in the Alpine region

In this work, we characterised the cyanobacterial communities in the plankton and littoral biofilm of 38 lakes and in the biofilm of 21 rivers in the Alps and surrounding subalpine regions by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. We found little overlap in the distribution of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) between the three habitats and between water bodies. The differences were caused by environmental filtering acting on the selection of the most abundant ASVs and a high contribution of rare oligotypes. The differentiation of community and genotype composition from specific water bodies was explained to a significant extent by environmental variables and morphometry. The taxonomic consistency of ASVs classified under the same genus name was assessed by phylogenetic analyses performed on three representative dominant genera, namely Cyanobium, Tychonema and Planktothrix. The analyses revealed eco-evolutionary adaptations in lakes and rivers, including some evidence for a polyphyletic nature. Monitoring individual genotypes in relation to environmental conditions will be useful to define the ecological amplitude of these taxa. However, the persistence or ephemeral nature of some of the rarest and most unusual ASVs has remained unknown.

Status of rare plant cenopopulations of the tract “Bolshiye Mochazhiny” in Balashov district, Saratov region

Cenopopulations of three rare and protected plants of the Saratov region (Gladiolus tenuis, Iris halophila, and Dactylorrhiza incarnata) were found in the tract “Bolshiye Mochazhiny”. These species are protected in neighboring regions as well – the Tambov, Voronezh, Penza regions and others. The species are of high ornamental value, which is another factor besides the narrow ecological amplitude of the plants. G. tenuis, I. halophila, and D. incarnata are demanding to moisture and soil fertility, have high numbers, and create aspects. In the cenopopulations of the studied plants a process of self-renewal proceeds, which is not hampered by anthropogenic factors, as the tract is far from settlements and is swampy in some places. The morphometric indices of the rare species correspond to their biology. The ontogenetic status of the species cenopopulations is characterized by a single-vertex spectrum with a high proportion of individuals of generative fractions: 49.4% for G. tenuis, 40.0% for D. incarnate, and 62.2% for I. halophila, respectively. According to T. A. Rabotnov’s classification, the cenopopopulations of the studied species are normal incomplete-membered. According to L. A. Zhivotovsky’s delta–omega classification, the cenopopulations of G. tenuis and D. incarnata are old; while that of I. halophile is aging. The studied cenopopulations of rare plants are stable in time and space. It is necessary to declare the tract “Bolshiye Mochazhiny” a natural monument of regional importance.

Lichens of carbonate substrates of the Patom Highlands (Eastern Siberia)

The study of lichens of carbonate substrates of the Patom Highlands was carried out. 177 samples were collected and 28 species of lichens were identified. Among the discovered species there are representatives of both strictly calciphilous flora and lichens of the eurysubstrate group. Calciphilic species constitute a special group of lichens, usually xerophytic or even ultraxerophytic, and have a complex of adaptations to life on carbonate substrates, and adaptation strategies affect not only the fungal component, but also the photobiont. As adaptations to xerothermic habitat conditions, lichens are considered to have a squamous thallus, the presence of pruritus, an epinecral corteх of the thallus, as well as cyanoprokaryotes as a photobiont. Some of the discovered species of cyanobiotic lichens are rare in Russia, among such species are Synalissa symphorea (Weber) Poelt and Racodium rupestre Pers. Increased resistance to adverse climatic conditions is provided to them by blue-green algae as a photobiont, or rather, their mucous membranes surrounding cells and leveling the effects of high humidity - dryness, as well as temperature fluctuations. The carbonate substrates of the Patom Highlands are inhabited by a peculiar complex of lichens, among which there are both ecologically plastic, occurring quite often and under various conditions, and specific species with a narrow ecological amplitude. It is carbonates that are «guides» to the northern latitudes of heat-loving species that have a number of specific adaptations.

Introduction of rare woody plants in the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The Arboretum of the Botanical Garden of the Komi Institute of Biology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the northernmost in Russia, which contains more than 500 taxa of woody plants, including 14 rare and endangered species of various categories and protection status. Six of them need regional protection (Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Ulmus laevis, Pinus sibirica, Tilia cordata, Cotoneaster cinnabarinus, Cotoneaster melanocarpus), the rest are in state protection (Euonymus nana, Cotoneaster cinnabarinus, Cotoneaster lucidus, Staphylea colchica, Juglans ailanthifolia, Rhododendron fauriei, Picea glehnii, Taxus baccata, Microbiota decussata) The largest number plants included in the Red Book of the Komi Republic (2019), characterized by a wide ecological amplitude, have been studied more and more. Attraction to the collection of rare woody plants of the Red Book of Russia is limited by harsh climatic conditions. Ten species of plants of state protection are represented by single specimens and are only maintained in the collection. Winter hardiness of plants is determined every season and phenological observations are carried out. Conservation and attraction of rare plant species to the collection in the conditions of the Komi Republic should become an integral part of the biodiversity conservation strategy.

The Impact of Modern Logging on Soil Disturbance, the State of Ground Cover and the Subsequent Regeneration of Trees in Boreal Forests of Russia

Abstract—The article presents materials for studying the physical properties of the upper horizons of the soil, the species diversity of the living ground cover and the natural regeneration of trees in 1–15 years old clear-cuttings. A noticeable compaction of the soil is observed in the ruts of the passage of machines, mainly in the thickness of the soil 0–10 cm, but not in the between ruts sand the cutting strips. We found that the physical properties (bulk density, total porosity and aeration porosity) of the upper soil horizons depend on the age of cutting and the study site (p 0.01). Soil compaction in the ruts decreases 9–15 years after logging to indicators in sites where the movement of machines was not carried out. The overgrowth of damaged sections in clear-cuts occurred through ruderal species and species with wide ecological amplitudes to environmental factors. This overgrowth stabilised 15 years after logging when the biodiversity level approached untouched stands. The regeneration of clear-cuts is mainly deciduous such as birch and aspen that mainly grew in the cutting strips. In the ruts and the between ruts, the amount of undergrowth is 2–7 times less than in cutting strips.