Nature Conservation Research

11–18

Authors: Letukhova V.Ju., Potapenko I.L., Kuznetsov M.E.

A comprehensive work on the study of rare and protected wood plants on the territory of the Besh-Tash valley (South-East Crimea) was carried out on the instructions of Karadag Nature Reserve administration in 2013. The Besh-Tash valley (approximate area of 15 hectares) is wedged in the territory of the Karadag reserve from the south-west side, but it is not included in its structure. This article describes the material on distribution, abundance, population structure of terebinth (Pistacia mutica) in this area. P. mutica is a Mediterranean relict species of the Tertiary period, included in the Red Books of Russia, Crimea and Ukraine. Terebinth creates rare relict plant communities (formation P. mutica) listed in the Green Book of Ukraine. In the study area we counted all P. mutica specimens. We determined their taxation parameters, as well as characterized their locality. Based on the literature and our own research age-state classes of P. mutica were characterized for the studied population. As a result, we registered a total number of 3086 specimens of P. mutica: immature (im) – 1259 (40.8%), virginal (v) – 1054 (34.2%), young generative (g1) – 341 (11.0%), middle-age generative (g2) – 372 (12.0%), mature generative (g3) – 60 (2.0%) plants. Senile plants have not been found out. So the age spectrum of the population is normal, not complete (without senile individuals), left-sided with predominance of immature plants. The population density is 206 specimens/ha. In the Besh-Tash valley P. mutica forms its own dense thickets or it is the component of hemixerophytical oak forests with Quercus pubescens, Juniperus deltoides, rarer Cornus mas, Sorbus torminalis. It also grows in shrub communities with Pyrus elaeagrifolia, Paliurus spina-christi, Prunus spinosa, Rosa corymbifera, Cotoneaster tauricus, Crataegus species, rarer Cotinus coggygria, Clematis vitalba. The distribution of the terebinth tree by elevation above sea level is analyzed. The great majority of the P. mutica population (97%) in the Besh-Tash valley is concentrated at an elevation of 30–120 m above sea level, so under the most favourable conditions, although some trees grow at an elevation of 173 m above sea level. The great majority of generative plants of P. mutica in the Besh-Tash valley have one trunk (73.8%). They are in a good state, (2.5–8.0 (10.0) m high and a trunk diameter to 32.0 cm). Trees with two or more trunks are also well developed, they have no evidence of anthropogenic damage. These facts may indicate favourable conditions for the growth of P. mutica in the area. The oldest trees are: 210 (h=10.0 m; d=32.0 cm), 200 (h=8.0 m; d=29.5 cm) and 190 (h=8.0 m; d=28.0 cm) years old. They are in a good state. We have also noted another 32 trees older than 100 years. In order to preserve the P. mutica population, its monitoring should be carried out in this area; besides, the oldest trees should be counted for the regular assessment of their phytosanitary status in future.

30–37

Authors: Noskova O.S.

On the basis of ten years' monitoring the nesting bird population of the coniferous-deciduous forests in the Pustynsky wildlife area (2006–2015) the long-term dynamics of the bird population structure was analyzed. The wildlife area is located on the border of the subtaiga and oak forests near the steppes islands, and its territory differs in a great variety of habitat types. The ornithological researches are conducted here from the thirties of the last century, using different methods of counting. The complex year-round bird counts were carried out by the author of this article around 2000. In the article the main cumulative indicators (the number of species, the abundance, the biomass, etc.) and characteristics (the dominants structure and share, the distribution level) of the bird population for the last decade, in comparison with similar indicators achieved here by different researchers throughout the last century and at the beginning of the 21st century, were analyzed. The tendencies of the long-term changes of the bird population revealed at the turn of the centuries, increased in the next decade. Generally they are connected with the natural succession and the increase in the anthropogenic transformation of the habitat, the climatic changes, especially abnormal, and also with the biotechnical actions, which were carried out on one site of the research. It was reflected in the change of the participation of the dominants on abundance – Fringilla coelebs, Parus major and Ficedula hypoleuca and the general characteristics of the bird population. The distribution of the coniferous trees in the forests promoted the high participation of the southern taiga species (Regulus regulus and Parus montanus) in the bird population. The increase of the mosaic of the forests and the surrounding territories caused an increase of the rare species number, at the same time a decrease in the bird population uniformity, an increase in the share of the dominants in their structure and an increase in the cumulative abundance of the bird population in general made the population vulnerable. At the same time, the bird population of the coniferous-deciduous forests in the Pustynsky wildlife area has still kept its uniqueness. The creation of a national park in this territory will allow the redistribution of the anthropogenic load on its separate parts and to keep the main part of the bird population.

59–78

Authors: Pospelova E.B., Pospelov I.N.

The results of the floristic survey of Khatanga surroundings are given. A comparison of the flora's current state with the earlier changes in 1905–1955 and with data of regional floras is conducted. There are 58 species listed in these references, which we have not detected. We believe that they have disappeared from the flora, or there was confusion in determination of plant specimens, or there were errors in the geographical locations. We found 93 species, not mentioned in the cited sources. The total list includes currently 359 species of vascular plants. Changes in the flora are caused by natural processes (change of climate, the hydrological regime of rivers, etc.) аs well as by human transformation of the landscape. An analysis of the flora is conducted, on the basis of which we regard it as belonging to the Asian hypoarctoboreal subtype of the Hypoarctic type.

90–95

Authors: Bilanenko E.N., Grum-Grzhimaylo O.A.

The current study addresses the fungal diversity of the peatlands that vary geographically and geologically, in the central and northern parts of Russia. The central (Smolenskaya area, National Park «Smolenskoye Poozerie») and northern (White Sea Biological Station area) peatlands have a different geological history, the former have a glacial origin, while the latter are of marine origin. Our aim was to investigate the fungal biota of these zones full of Sphagnum moss, and possibly reveal the species that are pertinent to these particular habitats. In both investigated areas, we found an overall poor species diversity with a high fraction of sterile mycelia. Many penicillia species were dominating in all peat samples – P. thomii, P. spinulosum, P. glabrum, P. funiculosum, P. aurantiogriseum (together with Geotrichum candidum), many of them are known to degrade Sphagnum. We were particularly interested in the dynamics of the species from the genus Oidiodendron that have been shown to be involved in primary Sphagnum degradation. The northern area contained a larger species diversity of Oidiodendron, as compared to the central zone. Interestingly, insect-associated species of the genus Tolypocladium and Beauveria, along with the psychrotolerant species of Geomyces and Tolypocladium were recovered only from the northern peatlands. Aspergillus spp. were found in peatlands of the central zone only. We link this result to the climatic features of the area, but also different invertebrate contents that may be utilized by fungi. We detected a tendency of an increasing diversity of Oidiodendron species, psychrotolerant and entomopathogenic fungal species as well as a proportion of sterile forms in the northern area.