The status of the Dactylorhiza incarnata populations in the Kalba Altai, Kazakhstan

Danilova AN, Sumbembayev AA. 2021. The status of the Dactylorhiza incarnata populations in the Kalba Altai, Kazakhstan. Biodiversitas 22: 3180-3195. The article provides a botanical description of the current state of populations of threatened species Dactylorhiza incarnata (L.) Soo in the Kalba. The ecological analysis of the flora, the ecological optimum of the species, the vitality of plant communities, and the degree of anthropogenic load are presented in the research. On the basis of field surveys, four main populations were identified in 13 typical plant communities. Flora of plant communities of D. incarnata on the Kalba Ridge includes 117 species belonging to 30 families and 80 genera. The ecological optimum of D. incarnata can be spotted on the southeastern slopes with diffused lighting and moderate wind impact. The plant communities with optimal conditions are Filipendulo-Sanguisorbo-Thalictrosum and Carexoto-Equiseto-Filipendulo-Festucosum characterized by highly humid meadows and forest edges with low density and competition. Self-maintenance and reproduction of the species are fulfilled mainly by seeds, less often by vegetative reproduction of the finger root. Due to analysis of the age composition of populations and the dynamics and stability of plant communities the recovery index is within the optimum. Typical indicator species are Thalictrum simplex L., Salix viminalis L., Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim., Sanguisorba officinalis L., Geranium pratense L., Festuca pratensis Huds.

Plant hormesis and Shelford’s tolerance law curve

Shelford's law of tolerance is illustrated by a bell-shaped curve depicting the relationship between environmental factor/factors’ intensity and its favorability for species or populations. It is a fundamental basis of ecology when considering the regularities of environment impacts on living systems, and applies in plant biology, agriculture and forestry to manage resistance to environmental limiting factors and to enhance productivity. In recent years, the concept of hormesis has been increasingly used to study the dose–response relationships in living organisms of different complexities, including plants. This requires the need for an analysis of the relationships between the hormetic dose–response model and the classical understanding of plant reactions to environments in terms of Shelford's law of tolerance. This paper analyses various dimensions of the relationships between the hormetic model and Shelford’s tolerance law curve under the influence of natural environmental factors on plants, which are limiting for plants both in deficiency and excess. The analysis has shown that Shelford’s curve and hormetic model do not contradict but instead complement each other. The hormetic response of plants is localized in the stress zone of the Shelford’s curve when adaptive mechanisms are disabled within the ecological optimum. At the same time, in a species range, the ecological optimum is the most favorable combination of all or at least the most important environmental factors, each of which usually deviates slightly from its optimal value. Adaptive mechanisms cannot be completely disabled in the optimum, and hormesis covers optimum and stress zones. Hormesis can modify the plant tolerance range to environmental factors by preconditioning and makes limits of plant tolerance to environmental factors flexible to a certain extent. In turn, as a result of tolerance range evolution, quantitative characteristics of hormesis (width and magnitude of hormetic zone) as well as the range of stimulating doses, may significantly differ in various plant species and even populations and intra-population groups, including plants at different development stages. Using hormetic preconditioning for managing plant resistance to environmental limiting factors provides an important perspective for increasing the productivity of woody plants in forestry.

TO DEVELOP THE FUNDAMENTALS OF STEPPE AGRARIAN LANDSCAPES OPTIMIZATION

On the grounds of antecedent works, the concept of steppe agrarian lands capes optimization is developed with taking modern climate and socio-economical changes in to consideration. On the grounds of steppe reconstruction potential study, the norm problematics is considered,the concept of steppe ecological optimum and steppe landscapes optimization is refined.

SUBBOREAL GEOGRAPHICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MACROLEPIDOPTERA FAUNA OF THE EUROPEAN NORTHEAST OF RUSSIA

Based on the material of Macrolepidoptera, high percentage of in the taiga and tundra biota of subboreal geographical elements – one of the main biogeographic features of the European North-East of Russia – is considered. It is shown that over 50 species of Lepidoptera from 11 families have peripheral area covers in various extent taiga zone and the southern parts of Hypoarctic zone, and the area of their ecological optimum situated in the subboreal forest and steppe zones. In consideration of peculiarities of the natural process, the analysis of the landscape-zonal distribution of Lepidoptera species suggests that the penetration of subboreal species was began and gradually took place during the warm periods of Holocene. A few groups of Holocene climatic relicts have been preserved in various areas of the taiga and the foresttundra zones. At the present time the most of subboreal species of Lepidoptera in the European North- East of Russia are new and actively distributing in anthropogenic habitats.

The effect of the Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz cone crystals on germination

The cones of the giant sequoia contain red, water-soluble crystalline substances known as cone crystals. The inhibitory effect of this extracted material on Norway spruce, Scots pine and European larch germination was newly examined. Sown seed representative samples without and with added cone crystals were compared after their incubation in the same appropriate conditions. All these cases have brought compelling evidence that cone crystals totally inhibit germination. However, the chemically inhibited seeds being rinsed afterwards germinated very well. This switch effect caused by the cone crystals of the three above-mentioned conifers proved to be a nonspecific tool. Seeds of the giant sequoia, naturally affected by the cone crystals, were sown as rinsed and non-rinsed samples. Both the samples, grown on a wet peat substrate in appropriate conditions for 16 weeks, exhibited an equal, yet very low viability of 1.3% at the same time. This low number, fixed in seeds of the tree being far from the ecological optimum, does not allow any disputation with other authors.

Influence of the ecological conditions on the productive potential of grey alder

The aim of the study is to analyse the productive potential of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) along an altitudinal gradient to verify coincidence ofproductive and ecological optimum and to identify climatic factors that control the growth. Along the altitudinal gradient of the river basin, dendrometric data has been analysed on the eight permanent research plots at the altitude of 525–705m. Correlations between standard chronology and average monthly climate characteristics were calculated for the period 1969–2015. Significant differences in the average basal area increments have been recognized among the investigated altitudinal zones. The highest basal area increment (1661±975mm²y^-1) was detected in the zone of altitude 605m. and the average annual volume increment of the model grey alder stand was 4.59m³. The radial growth of grey alder has been positively affected only by the temperature of the current April and negatively by precipitation of the previous growing season. Based on the pointer year analysis can be claimed that condition of the root system is the most influential factor in relation to the radial growth and is dependent on water stress in the previous year. Investigated relationships may significantly influence decision making process in the forest management focused on grey alder re- or afforestation.

Influence of the ecological conditions on the productive potential of grey alder

The aim of the study is to analyse the productive potential of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) along an altitudinal gradient to verify coincidence ofproductive and ecological optimum and to identify climatic factors that control the growth. Along the altitudinal gradient of the river basin, dendrometric data has been analysed on the eight permanent research plots at the altitude of 525–705m. Correlations between standard chronology and average monthly climate characteristics were calculated for the period 1969–2015. Significant differences in the average basal area increments have been recognized among the investigated altitudinal zones. The highest basal area increment (1661±975mm²y^-1) was detected in the zone of altitude 605m. and the average annual volume increment of the model grey alder stand was 4.59m³. The radial growth of grey alder has been positively affected only by the temperature of the current April and negatively by precipitation of the previous growing season. Based on the pointer year analysis can be claimed that condition of the root system is the most influential factor in relation to the radial growth and is dependent on water stress in the previous year. Investigated relationships may significantly influence decision making process in the forest management focused on grey alder re- or afforestation.