Rare plant communities in forest-steppe zone of the Priobskoe plateau

Abstract

Natural vegetation of the Western Siberia forest-steppe zone has changed dramatically under the anthropogenic pressure. The inventory for well-preserved vegetation massifs is essential for conservation of ecosystem diversity. The main goal of the study was to reveal rare and endangered plant species and communities in the forest-steppe zone of the Priobskoe Plateau. We selected 811 releves from database of Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS in program IBIS 7.2 according criteria used in “Green Book of Siberia”. Rare plant communities were selected from the dataset. Their distribution is shown on maps prepared using QGIS 2.18.28. Rare communities are steppes dominated by Stipa zalesskii, Stipa lessingiana, Psathyrostachys juncea, Stipa borysthenica. They belong to the order Helictotricho-Stipetalia (class Festuco-Brometea). The pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest strips represent native vegetation and provide habitat for endangered plants. The class Pyrolo-Pinetea unites rare xero-psammophytic forests with lichens and sedges. Endemic intrazonal vegetation is represented by communities dominated by Puccinellia kulundensis and solonchak meadows with Orchis militaris and Fritillaria meleagroides (order Scorzonero-Juncetalia gerardii, class Festuco-Puccinellietea). All presented communities are vulnerable and require in accurate conservation actions.