Floristic characteristics of some synanthropic plant communities of the Kobuleti lowland (Adjara, Georgia)

The materials of the field research of synanthropic vegetation in the territory of the Kobuleti in the 2016–2020 years are provided. In particular, 134 taxa belonging to 49 families and 97 genera were revealed in the three different plant communities (Cryptomerietum japonicae, Eucalyptetum-viminali-globulo-cinerei, and Cinnamomo glanduliferae-Cryptomerietum japonicae) in the Kobuleti lowland. The community Cryptomerietum japonicae comprises 66 taxa, 33 of which are native, and 33 have an alien origin. Woody plants in Cryptomerietum japonicae are represented by 15 taxa. The community Eucalyptetum-viminali-globulo-cinerei comprises 91 taxa, 36 of which are native and 55 are alien. Woody plants in Eucalyptetum-viminali-globulo-cinerei are represented with 17 taxa, while the rest 74 taxa are herbaceous. In Cinnamomo glanduliferae-Cryptomerietum japonicae there are discovered 49 plant taxa, including 25 native and 24 aliens. In this community, 16 taxa are represented by woody plants and 33 taxa – by herbaceous ones.Therefore, in the investigated region, 60 taxa (44.77%) were found to be native and 74 taxa (55.23%) alien. Among aliens, 31 taxa have East Asian origin, 16 taxa are from the Mediterranean, 13 taxa originated from Europe, ten taxa originated from North American, and four – originated from Australia.Despite cuttings and artificial planting of alien representatives, some indigenous woody species (i.e., Corylus avellana, Frangula alnus, Vaccinium arctostaphylos, Smilax excelsa, Quercus hartwissiana, Carpinus caucasica, Castanea sativa, and Hedera colchica) still occur in this territory. Both native and alien taxa participate in the formation of the described landscape structure. Successional events have started in the Kolkheti Lowland in ancient times. It is a long-term process, which is still ongoing, as our observations confirmed it.

Ecological and floristic characteristics of new montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum L.) site in the locality Glogovita kosa on Mt. Boranja

A new motpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum L.) site was described in this paper, located on mountain Boranja, in forest management unit ?Istocna Boranja?, above Roguljski potok, on Glogovita kosa ridge. Montpellier maple occurs on elevations between 460 and 480 m a.s.l., on southwestern and western aspect, on very steep slopes with inclination 45? t? 50?. The site area is 874 m2, ?nd coordinates of site centre are: ?=19?13?49.0? and ?=44?25?21.33?. In this site, Montpellier maple occurs in a plant community of hop-hornbeam and manna ash, and considering that Montpellier maple was recorded in all three layers, and that it occurs abundantly in shrub and ground layers, a subassotiation with montpellier maple was set apart (?stryo carpinifoliae-Fraxinetum orni subass. ?ceretosum monspessulanii). According to floristic composition, most plant species belong to the submediterranean floral type, so this community represents an enclave of submediterranean vegetation in the belt of continental beech forests. The community is of azonal character, orographically-edaphically conditioned, and occurs in warmer aspects, on shallow and skeletal rendzina on oolithic limestones.

Relict pine forests with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in the Zhiguli Mountains (the Middle Volga Region)

The pine mountain forest with bearberry is a rare, relict and endangered phytocoenosis in the Middle Volga (Samara Region; Stavropol District). At present, they are distributed in a limited way and only in the area of the Zhigulevsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve named after I.I. Sprygin. On this territory, geobotanical relevs of plots with bearberry were performed. The ecological-phytocenotic and floristic characteristics of the phytocenosis from the position of Braun-Blanquet are given. Ecotopes are located on slopes of different steepness of the western and north-western exposure. The plant community forms several layers. The species composition is not rich. The dominant species are Pinus cretacea Kalen., Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., Carex pediformis C.A. Mey., Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce, Rhaponticoides ruthenica (Lam.) M.V. Agab. et Greuter, Asperula tinctoria L. Rare species: Arctostaphilos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., Astragalus zingeri Korsh., Euphorbia zhiguliensis (Prokh.) Prokh., Gypsophila juzepczukii Ikonn., Helianthemum nummularium Mill., Koeleria sclerophylla P.A. Smirn., Pulsatilla patens Mill., Thymus zheguliensis Klokov et Des.-Shost., that are listed in the Red Book of the Samara Region. In recent years, pine forests with bearberry have suffered greatly from fires and are in the stage of degradation. The uniqueness and relict nature of the bearberry phytocenoses in the Zhiguli Mountains requires their preservation.

Ecological-floristic characteristics of the specially protected natural area «Kostinskie Loga» (Samara Region)

The paper considers ecological-floristic characteristics of the specially protected natural area Kostinskie Loga, located in the southern part of the Samara Region (Bolshechernigovsky and Bolsheglushitsky Districts). The research area belongs to the subzone of fescue-feather grass steppes. The flora is represented by 240 species of vascular plants belonging to 160 genera, 49 families, 2 classes and 1 division. Ecological-cenotic analysis was used to assess the ecosystem diversity of the nature sanctuary. The leading groups for phytocenotic affinity are identified: steppe (65 species; 27,1%) and meadow-steppe (54 species; 22,5%), which indicates a good preservation of steppe biomes and demonstrates landscape features of the nature sanctuary. The low value of the synanthropization index (15,8%) reflects a moderate level of anthropogenic load. The adventive component of the flora is represented by 30 plant species (12,5%), among which the degree of naturalization is dominated by epecophytes (10,8%), the time of introduction by neophytes (6,7%), the methods of introduction are dominated by xenophytes (27 species; 11,3%). The analysis of flora identified 6 species included in the Black book of Central Russia (Acer negundo, Atriplex tatarica, Cyclachaena xanthiifolia, Hordeum jubatum, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Xanthium albinum). The introduction of alien plants into natural communities occurs due to pasture digression in areas bordering the territory of the nature sanctuary. In general, the degree of anthropogenic transformation of the flora in most of the territory is expressed slightly, the vegetation cover retains natural features inherent in the steppe zone. A high degree of preservation of steppe communities with a significant participation of rare representatives of flora (14,6%) creates prerequisites for the organization of one of the steppe reserve sections of the Samara Region.

Variations of the biodiversity and carbon functions of karst forests in two morphologically different sites in southwestern China

Knowledge of the biodiversity and carbon (C) functions of karst forests is scarce. This study comprehensively compared the species diversity and floristic characteristics, biomass and its allocation, leaf and soil C and nitrogen (N) concentrations, and photosynthetic capacity of dominant tree species between peak clump depression (PCD)-type and plateau surface (PS)-type karst forests on the basis of two large plots (i.e., 1 and 2 ha, respectively) in southwestern China. Results showed that PCD-type karst forest exhibits higher biodiversity and more tropical family and genus types than PS-type karst forest. These two types of karst forest presented similar total biomass, but PCD-type karst forest allocated more biomass to supporting roots and less biomass to absorbing roots. PS-type karst forest had higher C/N ratios in leaves and soils than PCD-type karst forest. Deciduous tree species in PS-type karst forest had low net photosynthetic rates, resulting in lower net photosynthetic rate in PS-type karst forest than in PCD-type karst forest. Species richness and C storage in the karst morphologies would be considerably enhanced if degraded vegetation in different types of karst area could be successfully restored to forests according to respective morphological and vegetation features. A comprehensive understanding of the biodiversity and C functions of karst vegetation is essential to biodiversity conservation, regional C storage estimation, vegetation management and restoration, and potential global change mitigation.

Structural and compositional shifts in Cerrado fragments in up to 11 years monitoring

The Cerrado has a wide diversity of fauna and flora, and the knowledge of its horizontal structure, in different time intervals allows the prediction of its structural and floristic characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in structure and composition of tree community in three fragments of Cerrado with low anthropization, in an interval of 11 years at Minas Gerais state. Rectangular plots of fixed size were sampled, measuring stem diameter and height of all living arboreal individuals with diameter at 1.30 meters above ground (DBH) ≥ 5 cm. The tree vegetation dynamics study of the areas was performed, as well as the floristic analysis and the diametric structure. Considering all fragments and years of measurement, the recruitment of trees surpassed its mortality. The basal area varied between 3.67 and 13.07 m².ha-1. The studied areas, considering all fragments and years of measurement, showed a Shannon diversity index (H') from 3.43 to 3.87 nat.ind-1 and Pielou equitability index (J') ranged an interval between 0.77 and 0.82. The similarity calculated by the Jaccard index (J), when performed per plot considering the three fragments, showed a value of 0.2653. Also, related to the development and growth of the study areas, it can be inferred that all fragments and their respective years of measurement had a J-inverse pattern. In conclusion, it can be inferred that the three fragments maintained a representative growth in number of individuals and basal area.