GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CENOFLORA OF SOME SYNTAXONS OF MOUNTAIN MEADOWS OF KABARDINO-BALKARIA (CENTRAL CAUCASUS)
Nelli L. Sepkova, Yuliya M. Sablirova
Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories, Russian Academy Sciences, Nalchik, Russia
Keywords: flora, cenoflora, association, syntaxon, geographical analysis, geographical element, Central Caucasus
Abstract
The aim of the study is to establish the origin of cenoflores of selected syntaxons on the basis of geographical analysis, to determine the contribution of each of them to the formation of mountain-meadow vegetation and to outline the ways of its possible development. The botanical and geographical analysis was based on the scheme of geographical elements developed by N.N. Portenier for the Caucasus flora. Three syntaxons, ecologically and disturbance contrasting, were studied, described in the “Prielbrusie” National Park (NP) and the Kabardino-Balkar High Mountain Reserve (KBHMR). The composition of the leading syntaxon families reflects the presence of boreal (Poaceae) and Mediterranean (Fabaceae, Lamiaceae) flora, which is typical of the Caucasian flora as a whole. The cenoflora of the subassociation Betonici macranthae-Calamagrostietum arundinaceae Bistortetosum carnea Tsepkova 2016 comprises 86 species, 73 genera and 27 families. The leading families are Fabaceae (13.9 % of the syntaxon’s species), Asteraceae (11.6 %) and - (9.3 %). The Artemisio chamaemelifoliae-Plantaginetum atratae Tsepkova 2005 cenoflora contains 30 species, 27 genera and 14 families. The families Fabaceae and Lamiaceae each account for 16.7 % of the flora, and the families Asteraceae , Poaceae - 13.3 % each. The Rosaceae family is absent. In the association Ranunculo grandiflori-Hordeetum violacei Tsepkova 2016, 40 species of 35 genera and 15 families have been recorded. In terms of the number of species, the Asteraceae are in first place with 25 %, the Fabaceae and the Fabaceae families. Asteraceae - 25 %, Fabaceae and Poaceae - 15 %. The family Lamiaceae is absent. According to the scheme of geographical elements proposed for vascular plants by N.N. Portenier in the subassociation Betonici macranthae-Calamagrostietum arundinaceae Bistortetosum carnea 12 geoelements were identified. In the association Artemisio chamaemelifoliae-Plantaginetum atratae - 6 geoelements. Both communities are dominated by Caucasian geoelement (39.5 % and 26.7 %, respectively). The communities of the Ranunculo grandiflori-Hordeetum violacei association are represented by 9 geoelements. They are characterised by the predominance of Palaearctic geoelement (30.0 %), which may indicate the migratory character of the flora.
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