Distribution of Najadaceae Species in Trans-Baikal Area due to Climatic Factors

Abstract

According to data on the late 20th century in the Trans-Baikal and Baikal areas, the family Najadaceae is represented by four species known in few localities: Caulinia flexilis (4 localities), C. minor (3), Najas major (3), and N. marina (4). All of them are annuals, r-strategists, which are characterized by fluctuations in abundance. Since the 21st century, these species have been found in 20 more localities, mainly situated within the Baikal Depression. In 2015, when performing monitoring studies of aquatic flora, three more new localities of Caulinia flexilis, C. minor, and Najas major were found in the basin of the Amur River. Distribution maps of the Najadaceae species in the region were compiled, and the ecological characteristics of their habitats were given. In Trans-Baikal area, since the middle of the 20th century, warming has occurred due to an increase in the average annual temperature. For the last 70 years, aridization has increased in southern regions, which changes the habitat conditions in waterbodies. Findings of these Najadaceae species in Trans-Baikal area have coincided with the periods of increase in mean annual air temperatures and with local minimums of precipitation. An increase in the number of findings of Najadaceae species since the beginning of the 21st century, both in the Trans-Baikal area and in other regions of Russia, has been occurring against the background of an increase in the average annual air temperature. In Trans-Baikal area, the trend of increasing of temperatures in the warm season since the beginning of the 21st century is favorable for these species and may contribute to their further distribution.