Floodplain Meadows Research Articles

Simulated effects of floodplain restoration on plant community types

AbstractAimsChannelization and artificial embankments have altered the natural flood regime of many rivers, impacting the hydrological characteristics of floodplain ecosystems and their biological communities. This study was undertaken on a floodplain meadow to assess spatial patterns of plant communities in relation to soil physical and chemical conditions, and the impacts of floodplain restoration that involved embankment‐removal.LocationRiver Glaven, Hunworth, Norfolk, UK.MethodsFine‐scale plant and soil chemistry sampling was conducted prior to embankment removal, and hydrological and climatological conditions were monitored prior to and after embankment removal. Hydrological/hydraulic modelling simulated groundwater levels for a 10‐year period to assess changes in soil aeration stresses and plant community composition following embankment‐removal.ResultsHydrology was identified as the primary driver of plant community composition. Soil fertility was also important. Unique continuous measurements of vadose dissolved oxygen concentrations using oxygen optodes indicated strong coupling between water table depth and root zone dissolved oxygen concentrations. Reinstatement of overbank flows did not substantially affect aeration stress across most of the meadow because of pre‐existing wet conditions. However, along the river‐floodplain ecotone, aeration stress increased substantially from conditions normally associated with dry grassland to those characteristic of fen communities (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis restored water table regime may be suitable for more diverse plant assemblages. Benefits of flooding for increased species richness and transport of propagules may, however, be over‐ridden without accompanying water level management during the growing season, or hay removal to balance additional supply of nutrients from river floodwater and sediment. Our results show that hydrological/hydraulic modelling combined with quantitative measures of plant water‐requirements can provide practical and adaptive management tools to estimate the response of floodplain communities to changing water regimes.

Low flows in a regulated river system are associated with reduced breeding bird abundance and diversity in Yosemite National Park, California

AbstractRiver regulation can alter the magnitude, frequency, duration, and timing of flows, which influences the function of downstream ecosystems. Bird communities can be useful indicators of ecosystem function as individual species respond to varied changes in habitat structure and food availability. We examined the relative importance of different aspects of a regulated flow regime (average daily flow, the number of days flows fell below the 25th percentile, the timing and magnitude of maximum flows, and the inter‐annual duration of flows below the historical median) on predicted bird abundance and diversity using 11 years of data collected within a floodplain meadow system located downstream of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park, California. We found that prolonged periods of low flows were negatively associated with the number of breeding birds detected, as well as the species richness of the breeding bird community. Species richness was also negatively correlated with delays in spring runoff delivery. We opportunistically looked at the same hydrologic variables in a parallel unregulated system, the Merced River through Yosemite Valley, and did not find the same strong relationship with bird community data. This suggests that the dam may be exacerbating the effects of drought.

POLISSIAN CATTLE BREED

POLISSIAN CATTLE BREED

The use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to study the floodplain meadows of the Sozh river

There has been analyzed the experience in creating a detailed map of the river Sozh floodplain meadow vegetation with the help of aerial photography of the area from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) quadrocopter DJI Phantom 3 SE, and ground geobotanical research.

Трансформації угруповання колембол заплавних біотопів Закарпатської низовини під впливом осушувальної меліорації

Collembola’s communities of flood complexes in the Transcarpathian lowlands and changes in their taxonomic, biotopic and ecological structures under the influence of hydrotechnical melioration on the example of Latoritsa River were investigated. Two types of biotopes: natural (floodplain meadows of river valleys) and hydro-ameliorated (lowland hay meadows) have been studied. Because of our research, 46 species of Collembola were discovered in the meadow biotopes of natural and transformed floodplain complexes. In the meadow habitats of the meliorated floodplain (dammed from the river), the total species richness is greater than in the flooded (37 species). The upper litter and deep-soil forms of colembols are predominated in the life forms spectrum of the natural floodplain. The spectrum of biotope groups, which dominated eurytopic and meadow-steppe species groups, together make up 46% of the total diversity. Hydrotechnical melioration of the floodplain leads to an increase in Entomobryidae and Hypogastruridae families and a decrease in Neanuridae, compared to undrained part of floodplain. Members of all major families of Collembola presented in a composition of investigated taxonomical groups. Hydrotechnical melioration of the floodplain leads to an increase in the species richness of the Entomobryidae and Hypogastruridae families and the reduction of Neanuridae. Thus, the transformation of the investigated floodplain complexes causes a noticeable increase in the number of meadow, meadow-steppe and meadow-forest species in the fragmentized Colembolla taxocenes, a significant decrease in the forest, meadow-bogs species and the total elimination of near-water ones. So, in the spectra of the hygroprefe­rence, a decrease in the representation of hygrophilic and hygro-mesophilic Collembola complexes due to their substitution by xero-mesophilic and xeroresistant groups were recorded for a certain ecological vector. The ecological structure destruction of Collembola communities, which are reflected through a appreciable reconstructions of taxocenes and changes of their structural and functional integrity, indicate a negative transformations in floodplain complexes under the hydrotechnical melioration.

Taxonomic composition of dry and floodplain meadows of the Bolshaya Kokshaga nature reserve

The paper deals with the study of the taxonomic structure of floodplain and dry meadow communities of the Bolshaya Kokshaga State Nature Reserve of the Republic of Mari El. The dependence between the meso- and microrelief of the territory and the conditions of plant growth is revealed. It has turned out that the flora of the studied 12 meadow phytocoenoses (6 floodplain and 6 dryland) includes 174 species of vascular plants belonging to 110 genera from 36 families. The leading families with the greatest species diversity include 6: Compositae (23 species), Poaceae (19), Fabaceae (15), Rosaceae (15), Scrophulariaceae (12), Caryophyllaceae (11), which include 55,17% of the total flora of the meadows studied. The Jacquard coefficient revealed the similarity of the species composition of dry and floodplain meadows. Both types of meadows are dominated by species of the family Compositae and Poaceae. The studies have shown that in the absence of anthropogenic load, processes of transformation of meadow communities into forest communities are observed. The most intensive processes of overgrowth are in forest hayfields, due to the proximity of forest phytocoenoses, the possibility of invasion of seed and vegetative diasporas. One of the common variants of overgrowth observed on the territories after the cessation of economic activity is a gradual reduction in the area of meadow communities along the edges from bordering forest communities. In this case, explerent species of trees and shrubs growing in forest coenoses are introduced. After a certain period of time, meadow communities are replaced by aspen, birch, and pine forests. As long as the meadows are regularly mowed down, the restoration of woody vegetation is not possible.

The contribution of the spatial hydrological niche to species diversity in rare plant communities of English floodplain meadows

The hydrological niche is one of the few below ground spatial environmental niches, which has been shown to structure English floodplain meadows and other European and African herbaceous ecosystems. However, both the relative contribution of hydrological heterogeneity to the structure of English floodplain meadows across spatial scales and the forms of the individual species’ responses to hydrological heterogeneity remain largely unknown. Here, we use a survey database of 2440 evaluation units sampled in 15 English floodplain meadows to dissect the spatial architecture of this metacommunity and describe the relationship between the abundance of individual species and hydrological heterogeneity. Of the tested species, 65% responded to spatial hydrological heterogeneity, with both monotonic and hump-shaped responses. We found that between-site beta-diversity is much stronger than within-site beta-diversity, with between-site scale hydrological variation explaining twice as much variation in community structure as within-site scale. This leads to the conclusion that a conservation strategy of rare plant communities should include not only the preservation of the diversity of local hydrological regimes, but also, specially, the inclusion in the conservation system of as many and environmentally varied local plant communities as possible.

Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Fritillaria meleagris

Abstract This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Fritillaria meleagris L. (Snake's Head Fritillary). The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation. Fritillaria meleagris is a perennial spring bulb that grows in wet mesotrophic meadows and wet openings in woodlands. In Britain, it is localised to floodplain meadows but occurs as an intentional introduction in a range of habitats. There are several large populations on the floodplains of the River Thames and its tributaries in Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Fritillaria meleagris occurs on mesotrophic alluvium soils often overlaying calcareous gravel with a relatively wide pH range. It favours a high ground water table during winter months and spring followed by good drainage of the soil throughout the summer. Fritillaria meleagris plants regularly experience prolonged dormancy. From 30% to 99% of plants in a population can remain below‐ground for more than a year. Fritillaria meleagris produces nectar and is mainly pollinated in April by bumblebee queens in England. Other pollinators include insects of the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera, particularly bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies. The release of the seeds from the pod in May–June can take a month. Seeds require warm and cold treatments for the embryo to fully form. Air pockets aid seed flotation on the surface of flood water for up to a month. The seeds of Fritillaria meleagris do not form a seed bank, germinating either during flotation or on bare ground. Fritillaria meleagris declined in Britain during the 20th century due to agricultural improvement and ploughing of floodplain grasslands. In all, 20 or so remaining populations survive in ancient hay meadows. Several of its British locations receive statutory protection as designated sites. However, recent work suggests that F. meleagris was probably introduced to Britain as an ornamental, and the level of protection it receives is therefore likely to change.

Flora and Vegetation of the Aleksandrovskiy Wildlife Area (Tyumen Oblast, Vikulovo District)

The Aleksandrovskiy wildlife area (95830.2 ha) reserved for a sanctuary is located in sub-taiga of the western part of Vikulovo District, Tyumen Oblast. A complete floral survey of the area is unattainable at present because it is a vast wetland with very few roads. The study is aimed at evaluating the current state of local flora and vegetation, and identifying plants and plant communities that require protection. Main types of phytocenoses in the Aleksandrovskiy wildlife area were described, which include small-leaved, light-coniferous and broad-leaved forests, willow coppices, cereal-forb dry meadows, sedge-reed floodplain meadows mixed with halophyte communities, pine-subshrub-sphagnum raised bogs (riams), and semi-aquatic vegetation. Birch, aspen and aspen-birch bracken, forb and cereal-forb meadows predominate in the surveyed area. The floral diversity of the site amounts to 410 species of vascular plants, with 80 found in Vikulovo District for the first time. New sites for 10 vascular plants, one moss and one lichen species included in Red Data Book of Tyumen Oblast were found, among them Cypripedium calceolus L., Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. included in Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. Fourteen species which are relatively rare in Tyumen Oblast were registered. All found species were described with a reference to their habitats, geographical coordinates of the collection sites and the date of collection. Additionally, the Red Data Book species description included their rarity status and the condition of the coenopopulations. The results allow to define the species distribution areas in Transuralia

. Productivity changes of wetland and grassland ecosystems along a latitudal gradient

The aim of the study. Analysis of changes in the productivity of dwarf shrub-moss-lichen, pine-dwarf shrub-sphagnum and sedge-sphagnum and grass ecosystems along the latitudinal gradient. Methodology. For a number of bog and grass ecosystems located along a latitudinal gradient from 65 to 50° N in the range of longitudes from 63 to 95° E the stocks of live and dead, aboveground and belowground phytomass, as well as the values of aboveground (ANP), belowground (BNP) and total production (NPP) were analyzed. The data are given for 45 ecosystems grouped into 12 types from forest-tundra mires to desert steppes. The vegetation of ecosystems is represented by bog one (mosses, shrubs and grasses) to the steppe (mesoxerophytic and xerophytic grasses). Since the spread of data on stocks and production for individual ecosystems is large, we present averaged data for ecosystem types. Main results. The largest stock of green phytomass was obtained for floodplain meadows (7 t/ha), the smallest stock was found in the desert steppes (0.8 t/ha). The stock of dead aboveground phytomass was maximal in the fens of the forest-steppe zone (10 t/ha) and minimal in the oligotrophic hollows of boreal bogs (0.3 t/ha). The stock of living belowground organs decreases along a latitudinal gradient from 20 (true steppes) to 3 t/ha (desert steppes), whereas the stock of dead belowground organs decreased from 79 (fens of the forest-steppe zone) to 4 t/ha (in the ryams of the middle taiga and desert steppes). Above-ground production was estimated as highest in the fens of the forest-steppe zone (12), decreasing along the latitudinal gradient down to the desert steppes (1 t/ha per year). Belowground production in all types of ecosystems studied was higher than the above-ground one, ranging from 45 (fens of the forest-steppe zone) to 3 t/ha per year (mires in the forest-tundra). The NPP value in some of the studied ecosystems varied from 57 (fens of the forest-steppe zone) to 5 t/ha per year (mires in the forest-tundra). The BNP/ANP ratio averaged over ecosystem types was maximal in the desert steppes (5.9) and minimal in floodplain meadows (1.9). In the range of latitudes 56-52°N, where steppe meadows, meadow steppes and true steppes located, the NPP, averaged over these ecosystems, varied from 22 to 24 t/ha per year. These ecosystems the most fertile soils of the region, i.e. meadow chernozem and ordinary chernozem (Phaeozems) were developed. To the north and south of this area, the NPP value decreases: to the north due to the lack of heat, and to the south due to lack of moisture. Conclusions. In the biotic cycle in mires differs from that in meadows and steppes by the annual sequestration of a part of the carbon influx in the forming peat. This amount of carbon sequestration is about 10% of the NPP of the wetland ecosystem. In the climax grass ecosystems, the carbon influx is equal to its outflux. These ecosystems are acting as gas exchangers between plants, soil and atmosphere. In contrast to grasslands, wetlands are acting as carbon accumulators that lower the CO2 in the air.

Urban Pressures and The Process of Cultural Landscape Change. The Example of The Lielupe River Valley

Abstract With the increasing density and cost of living in cities in the early 21st century, more and more people are choosing to live in rural areas. With improvements in road quality, vehicle technology and engineering infrastructure, the population of rural areas within 10–15 km outside of cities is increasing, choosing the most scenic locations. This is also the case of the Lielupe river countryside, where not only old homesteads are being renovated but also new housing clusters with their own infrastructure are being created, bringing a new architectonic and aesthetic quality. This is particularly true in areas where both a cultural and historic area and a picturesque natural base coexist. The study examines the processes of landscape transformation of the Lielupe riverbanks downstream of Bauska and upstream of Jelgava. The landscape of the banks of the Lielupe river between Bauska and Jelgava is rich in cultural and historical buildings. Part of it was lost both during the Bermondt affair period and in September 1944 when the Russian army forced its way into the shallower parts of the Lielupe. With the growth of low-rise buildings along the banks of the Lielupe in the early 21st century, new viewpoints, features and dominants were introduced, marking a new architectural character of the buildings. The silhouette of a particular historic site, which sharply marks this dissonance in the plain area, is fading away. At the beginning of the 21st century, the development pressure is creating a new scale for the mosaic landscape of the plain with the changing character of the Lielupe river – from a steep bank with exposed dolomite layers to the flow of the river through the floodplain meadows.

Resources and Reserves of Floodplain Meadows

Resources and Reserves of Floodplain Meadows

Materials to the creation of the Regional Landscape Park ‘Smarahdove Dzherelo’ (Kharkiv Region, Ukraine)

Intending to create a regional landscape park, we investigated various sites of upland oak forests, pine forests on the above-floodplain terrace of the left bank of the Udy River, adjacent floodplain meadows on both banks, and swampy soil depressions near the village of Ternovaya. In total, we proposed seven segments with a total area of ​​6173.03 hectares to be included in the Smarahdove Dzherelo Regional Landscape Park, a projected conservation area in the south of the Kharkiv District of the Kharkiv Region. The studied oak forests on the right river bank and flat interfluves, pine forests on the above-flooded terrace, and the Udy floodplain are examples of the typical landscape of Slobidska Ukraine. The Udy floodplain hosts meadows of a significant area and alder forests in humid near-terrace depressions; dry meadows are confined to forest edges and fallow lands. In total, ten endangered natural habitats listes in the Berne Convention are presented in the study area. Flora and vegetation are rich and, in general, retain the composition inherent in the biotopes of the southern forest-steppe of Left-Bank Ukraine. One plant association is included in the Green Book of Ukraine; the other three are in the List of Rare Plant Associations of the Kharkiv Region. Five vascular plant species, one fern species, and one fungus species are included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine; 14 plant species are included in the Red List of the Kharkiv Region. We found eight animal species of the European Red List, 65 animal species from Appendices II and III of the Bern Convention, including six species from Appendices I and II of the Bonn Convention; 23 animal species are included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, while 19 species are in the List of Rare Species and Species in Need of Protection in the Kharkiv Region. New locations of species requiring protection at the regional and all-Ukrainian level have been identified. Species at the boundaries of their ranges make a significant contribution to local biodiversity. Several southern species were found on the dry edges of the Chornyi Lis forest area: for the Mantis Iris polystictica, it is the second record from the Kharkiv Region, for the spiders Marinarozelotes malkini and Ero aphana, it is the first record in the regional list. Two beetle species (Fissocatops westi and Scymniscus horioni) are new to the fauna of Ukraine. We assessed the degree of preservation of natural communities and the possibility of their inclusion in various zones of the projected regional landscape park. Basic biotechnical measures were recommended to maintain the natural properties of the park ecosystems.

Dynamics of the Species Composition of Phytocenoses of Floodplain Mountain Meadows of the Carpathians Subject to Superficial Improvement

The conducted research of various authors has developed a number of measures for surface improvement of meadowland in various soil and climatic conditions. However, studies on the influence of such surface improvement measures as the use of organic and mineral fertilizers and sowing of perennial grasses and legumes in the sod on the dynamics of the species composition of Floodplain Mountain meadows of the Carpathians have not yet been conducted, which confirms the relevance of this study. The article presents the results of three-year studies conducted during 2017-2019 in the peasant farm of V.F. Martyshchuk (the Verkhovinsky District of the Ivano-Frankivsk region) to study the features of transformation of the species composition of natural phytocenoses of floodplain Meadows of the Black Cheremosh river of the mountain and forest belt of the Carpathians under the influence of their surface improvement with the use of organic and mineral fertilizers and sowing of a cereal mixture for haymaking use and Tribolium repens L. for multipurpose use. It was found that floodplain Meadow phytocenoses were mainly cereals and mixed grasses with a share of wild cereals of 57-58% (up to 15 of them % Festuca rubra L. s. str. and 5-6% of low-value ones in feed terms Calamagrostis arundinaceae (L.) Roth and Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv.), mixed grasses – 35-38% and unseeded Fabaceae 5-7%. When applying a set of measures for surface improvement of cereals and mixed grasses, low productive (within 1.95-2.15 t/ha of dry weight) floodplain mountain meadowlands, their species composition improved. For making P30K60 the content of wild plants increased by 2-5% Fabaceae, and N60P30K60 – by 9-10% unseeded Poaceae. For haymaking use, Poaceae with Phleum pratense L. and Festuca pratensis Huds. against the background of making N60P30K60 for sowing a mixture in the sod in the spring, their share increased to 74%, and for multi-year use and sowing Trifolium repens L. against the background of making P30K60 the quantity of Fabaceae increased to 44% or by 32%. The highest floral saturation (43 species from 19 families and 93-98% from perennials) was observed in variants without fertilization and with the introduction of P30K60 for multi-year use, which is 4-14 species more compared to haymaking use, or with the introduction of N60P30K60 and or with sowing a mixture of cereals on the background of N60P30K60 for haymaking use, or sowing Trifolium repens L. against the background of P30K60 for multipurpose use

Populations of Agrostis diluta Kurcz. and Psathyrostachys caespitosa (Sukaczev) Peschkova in Yakutia: dynamics of vitality

In Yakutia, natural floodplain meadows and steppes have long been involved in economic activities. To develop methods of rational use, one needs to constantly consider the state of vegetation, mainly its constituent populations. Our research focuses on studying the dynamics of the vitality of the populations of the Agrostis diluta Kurcz. and steppe Psathyrostachys caespitosa (Sukaczev) Peschkova cereals. These species play an essential role in the composition of vegetation cover. We determined the vitality coefficient IVC. Our study of populations over several years has revealed the dynamic mobility of the vital structure, which is of adaptive significance and ensures the sustainability of populations. We have found that the vital structure of the cereal populations of the meadow Agrostis diluta and the steppe Psathyrostachys caespitosa during long-term studies (2007–2013 and 2007–2016, respectively) is heterogeneous. In unfavorable humidification conditions, we characterize years as depressive. Under favorable conditions of humidification, they quickly turn into thriving plants. In addition to the weather of the vegetation periods, habitat specificity affects the vitality of species populations that differ in ecological and coenotic characteristics. The Q quality index and IVC correspond to each other by year and form a clear descending order during the transition from a thriving to a depressive state. Currently, the vital state of the populations of both species is satisfactory.

Vegetation characteristics control local sediment and nutrient retention on but not underneath vegetation in floodplain meadows.

Sediment and nutrient retention are essential ecosystem functions that floodplains provide and that improve river water quality. During floods, the floodplain vegetation retains sediment, which settles on plant surfaces and the soil underneath plants. Both sedimentation processes require that flow velocity is reduced, which may be caused by the topographic features and the vegetation structure of the floodplain. However, the relative importance of these two drivers and their key components have rarely been both quantified. In addition to topographic factors, we expect vegetation height and density, mean leaf size and pubescence, as well as species diversity of the floodplain vegetation to increase the floodplain’s capacity for sedimentation. To test this, we measured sediment and nutrients (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) both on the vegetation itself and on sediment traps underneath the vegetation after a flood at 24 sites along the River Mulde (Germany). Additionally, we measured biotic and topographic predictor variables. Sedimentation on the vegetation surface was positively driven by plant biomass and the height variation of the vegetation, and decreased with the hydrological distance (total R2 = 0.56). Sedimentation underneath the vegetation was not driven by any vegetation characteristics but decreased with hydrological distance (total R2 = 0.42). Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content in the sediment on the traps increased with the total amount of sediment (total R2 = 0.64, 0.62 and 0.84, respectively), while C, N and P on the vegetation additionally increased with hydrological distance (total R2 = 0.80, 0.79 and 0.92, respectively). This offers the potential to promote sediment and especially nutrient retention via vegetation management, such as adapted mowing. The pronounced signal of the hydrological distance to the river emphasises the importance of a laterally connected floodplain with abandoned meanders and morphological depressions. Our study improves our understanding of the locations where floodplain management has its most significant impact on sediment and nutrient retention to increase water purification processes.

An annotated list of the flora of the perspective local botanical reserve “Vovchi Vody” (Kharkiv region, Ukraine)

The territory of the projected local botanical reserve “Vovchi Vody” is situated in the eastern vicinity of Vovchansk town (Chuhuiv (formerly Vovchansk dist.) district, Kharkiv region, Ukraine) and occupies 47 ha. The area of the perspective nature reserve t includes chalk outcrops, steppe plots, floodplain meadows on the right bank of Vovcha river, spontaneous dumps, roads and trails, ruined buildings of brick factory. There are few finds of rare species, but have not detail floristic researches. The brick factory was working there from the end of XIX to the end of XX centuries. The landscapes are transformed and destroyed after it activity. During 2018–2020, we has thirteen expeditions. We created an annotated list of the vascular plant of the studied territory. The list includes the information about modern scientific name of the species; their relative occurrence; distribution pattern, hyhromorphes and ceonorphes;selection division to alien and rare flora fractions etc. The floristic list of the perspective botanical reserve “Vovchi Vody” includes 206 species from 47 families, 3 classes and 2 divisions of vascular plants. The largest families are Asteraceae (35 species; 16,9 %), Poaceae (20 species; 9,7 %), Fabaceae (20 species; 9,7 %), Lamiaceae (19 species; 9,2 %), Scrophulariaceae (13 species; 6,3 %), Rosaceae (9 species; 4,3 %) Ranunculaceae (7 species; 3,4 %), Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, Rubiaceae (each one contains 6 species; 2,9 %). The area of perspective nature reserve has great scientific and bioconservation importance. Twenty five species have a sozological value. Ten species are included to Red Data Book of Ukraine and fifteen species are included to Оfficial list of regional rare plant species of Kharkiv region.

Wild Populations Of Medicago Falcata L. In Small River Basins Of European Russia As A Source Material For Breeding

The genetic resources of wild populations of Medicago falcate L. of the Cretaceous South of the Srednerussky Upland in ecotopic conditions of chalky slopes and floodplain meadows in the basins of small rivers Tikhaya Sosna and Manjokha were studied to find the source material for breeding work to create varieties for different cultivation conditions. Evaluation of phytocenotic features, density of cenopopulations, forage and seed species was carried out. The species M. falcata forms, both on meadows in floodplains and on chalk slopes, full-membered normal cenopopulations, which have a continual (continuous) distribution of individuals by age groups, stable in time and in space. The centralized ontogenetic spectrum indicates the stable status of M. falcata cenopopulations in plant communities in various ecotopes of small river basins. The density of individuals of M. falcata was on average 18.9 % higher in cenopopulations of floodplains than in chalk slopes. The density of generative individuals in all studied cenopopulations was on average close and varied within 81.2-83.7 %, which indicates their stability in time and high adaptive potential. The weight of one fruiting model plant of floodplain meadows was 2.28 times higher than on chalky slopes. Seed yield on floodplain meadows was 2.02 times higher than on chalky slopes. Valuable source material for breeding M. falcatum varieties adapted to different ecotopic conditions was obtained.

Agrolandscapes of the East Sayan Mountain Province of Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russian

According to the data of the agro-landscape and ecological zoning of Eastern Siberia and the Far East, conducted by the authors, the spatial distribution of biological and ecological patterns in the East Sayan Mountain province was established. The province is located in the Eastern Sayan mountain system within the Southern Taiga zone. Its area is 17022.5 thousand hectares. Mountains occupy 76% of the province’s territory, plains – 24%. In the structure of land forests occupy more than 68% of the area of the province . Other land (mainly rocks and glaciers) occupies 20%. Under water is 3.4% of the area, swamps occupy 2.8%. Shrubs occupy less than 1%, mountain deer pastures – 0.8% of the area of the province. Agricultural land occupies 4.5% of the total area of the province. Including arable land – 0.9%, pastures – 2.6%, hayfields – 1%. The structure of natural forage lands (NFL) is dominated by mountain pastures on mountain soils (76%). The plains and foothills of the province are dominated by dry southern taiga meadows (13%). Floodplain meadows (5%) and swampy meadows (5%) are also represented. The ecological state of the province’s landscapes is good and satisfactory. In particular, NFL – good and satisfactory, forests – good and satisfactory, mountain deer pastures – good. The ecological state of arable land is tense. The established patterns are the necessary information basis for the development and implementation of innovative technologies for sustainable agricultural development, rational nature management and environmental protection in the East Sayan Mountain Province of Eastern Siberia and the Far East.

RESOURCES OF RAW MATERIAL SPECIES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS OF RADIUS PHYTOCENOSES OF PEREYASLAVSCHINA

The article presents the results of the resource assessment and location of individual raw material species of medicinal plants of meadow and meadow-steppe phytocenoses of Pereyaslav region (Kyiv region, Boryspil district). It is established that the participation of wild medicinal plants of Pereyaslav region in meadow phytocenoses takes the second (145 species out of the total number – 582), and in meadow-steppe third (114 species) places. The meadow type of floristic complexes in the study area is represented by floodplain meadows of the Dnieper, Supa, Trubizh, Alta, Brovarka rivers, and a number of small rivers. They are presented in four types of formations: steppe, real, swampy and saline meadows.During the field research conducted in 2015-2020, the resources of wild raw medicinal plants of official medicine were taken into account: Achillea submillefolium Klok. et Krytzka, Hypericum perforatum L., Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench, Thymus serpyllum L. and their raw material productivity (biological and operational reserves) in meadow and meadow-steppe ecotopes of Pereyaslav region was determined. The location of raw materials of the studied species of medicinal plants of the natural flora of the specified area is determined.As a result of resource surveys, it was found that the stocks of Achillea submillefolium are significant and fully sufficient to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry; stocks of Thymus serpyllum, Hypericum perforatum are sufficient for industrial procurement; reserves of Helichrysum arenarium are insufficient and need to be limited.