Marina Silantyeva

Rare and unique communities in the South of Western Siberia of the Bolshaya Sogra natural complex (Kislukhinsky state natural regional reserve, the Altaisky Krai, Russia)

The paper presents floristic and geo-botanical characteristics of rare forest ecosystems of the south of Western Siberia – spruce forests on the site of the Ob river ancient bed within the modern Bolshaya Sogra within the boundaries of the state natural reserve ‘Kislukhinsky’ (Altai region). Spruce forests here are at the edge of their spread in the West Siberian Plain conditions. There are over 300 species of vascular plants found in these spruce forests. Among them are plants that are typical of the mountain taiga associations of Russian Altai, as well as orchids, which have high species diversity. Spruce forest set of associations is also varied. The uniqueness of the described communities to the south of Western Siberia, the large number of rare and endangered plant species listed in the Red Books of different ranks, as well as the boreal forest species complex rare to the lowland wooded steppe, which has a relict character, all served as the basis for allocating a special protection area in the ‘Kislukhinsky’ reserve and attributing the studied spruce forests to the forests of high conservation value.

Cereal phytoliths of Northern Altai

The article presents the results of analysis of the phytolith composition of cereals in the Northern Altai. Some 23 species of Poaceae have been studied. For each species, we analyzed a set of silicon particles in leaves, stems, and generative structures. We selected from 22 to 27 significant morphotypes of phytoliths, depending on their morphological affinity. Our results were compared with the wetting factor. We also analyzed the ratio of the composition of phytoliths of cereals and their ecological (edaphotopic) groups and life forms. We founded the correlations between several morphotypes of cereal phytoliths and life forms with optimum species moistening.

Phytolith research in the South of Western Siberia

The research of modern and fossil soils was conducted at three archaeological sites: Nizhniy Kayancha, Novoilinka-3, and Tytkesken-2. Nizhniy Kayancha is a burial ground (dated 5th century BC) situated on the left bank of the Katun River (400-700 m above sea level). An archaeological site is a burial mound with seven mounds which can be visually separated within the site, and which are placed by small chains with 2–3 objects. The south mound of the first group was examined for a phytolith analysis. Еhe Novoilinka-3 settlement (dated 3rd millennium BC) is situated in the north of Kulunda, in the southern part of a hill formed by the false River Burla. The Tytkesken-2 settlement is situated on the verge of the stream Tytkesken, the left tributary of the Katun River, on its second terrace above the flood plain. Geobotanical research was conducted in the territory of the archaeological sites under study. Grass phytoliths of modern flora were examined. Soil samples from different layers of the walls of excavation sites were collected. Phytolith extraction was based on the methods described by A.A. Golyeva. 20 g of soil, and 100 g of plant material of each species were processed during the initial period. The examination of the phytoliths of leaves, stalks and flower heads from the samples obtained from the plant material was carried out with the help of an optical microscope (Olympus BX-51). The phytoliths were counted to 250 (in ashed plants) and to 300 (in soils) particles. More mesophytic plant communities of the ancient epochs have been reconstructed for all three examined archaeological sites. The territory of the Nizhniy Kayancha burial ground was covered by birch forest at the time prior to formation of the archaeological site. The territory of Novoilinka-3 settlement was covered by pine and birch steppificated forest in the Eneolithic period, but the territory was deforested as the settlement developed. Several stages of vegetation change have been reconstructed for the Tytkesken-2 archaeological site. This includes deforestation of pine forest and further steppe formation in the late Neolithic Age, prairiefication in the Eneolithic Age and new steppe formation in the Bronze Age up to the present time.

Secondary successions of grass vegetation on the right bank of the river Ob (Altai Territory)

Abstract The secondary succession of grass vegetation on the right bank of the river Ob (Altai territory) was investigated. The analysis has shown that the successions go in 3 hypothetical rows, depending on the humidity of ecotopes: ‘xerophytic’, ‘mesophytic’, ‘mesohydrophytic’. It is obvious that the rate of succession slows down in the conditions of more arid ecotopes. The dynamics of the aboveground phytomass are generally subject to this trend. The higher the succession rate, the quicker the phytomass develops.

Phytocoenotic biodiversity of the planned national nature park ‘Foothills of Altai’

Abstract The planned national nature park is situated in the northern part of the Altai foothills within the Belokurihinskiy granite massif. The flora includes 11 species of vascular plants listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation (2008) and the Altai Territory (2006). Two species are endemics of Altai-Sayan mountainous country: Silene turgida and Dentaria sibirica. More than half of the territory (52.8%) is covered with forests. The fir taiga with the abundance of relict forms is the most extensive in terms of the area. Thus, the territory of the nature park features the following vegetation types: forests (small-leaved forests and conifer forests), meadows (steppe meadows, real (present), lowland meadows), meadow steppes, brakes, rocky vegetation, water vegetation and anthropogenic vegetation.

To the Necessity of Making Lake Bychje Especially Protected Area (Volchihinskij District, Altai Krai)

В статье приведено обоснование необходимости создания комплексного памятника природы, включающего в себя различные формы рельефа и связанные с ними ландшафты и растительные сообщества, а также редкие виды животных и растений. На территории Алтайского края преобладают заказники, созданные в лесных экосистемах, в то время как охраняемые степные экосистемы (редкие для Сибири в целом) представлены единично. Предлагаемый нами объект является репрезентативным для сохранения биологического разнообразия степной зоны Алтайского края. Проектируемый памятник природы краевого значения «Озеро Бычье» расположен в Волчихинском районе Алтайского края. Комплексное изучение исследуемой территории проводилось в период полевых сезонов 2012–2013 гг. Создана электронная база данных, представляющая собой список видов высших сосудистых растений, произрастающих на территории озера с указанием семейства, статуса в Красной книге Алтайского края и их приуроченности к различным фитоценозам. Дана характеристика фауны, выявлены редкие виды животных. Растительные сообщества, представленные на исследуемой территории, весьма разнообразны. Вдоль берега озера развивается осочковый сухой сосновый лес, прибрежная часть занята комплексами галофитной и гидрофитной растительности. На плакорных участках растительность представлена сообществами чиёвников. Животный мир территории проектируемого памятника природы включает два фаунистических комплекса — лесной и озерно-степной. Всего отмечено около 110 видов растений, из них 4 вида включены в Красную книгу Алтайского края (2006), и 60 видов животных, в том числе 11 из Красной книги Алтайского края (2006). Ключевые слова: охрана, растительность, животный мир, биоразнообразие. The article shows the necessity facts of the complex nature monument creation that will includes different shapes of relief also landscapes and plant communities connected with them as well as rare species of plants and animals. On the territory of Altai Krai forest zakazniks are uppermost while steppe protected areas are rare (generally for Siberia). The locality suggested by us is representative for biodiversity conservation of the steppe zone in Altai Krai. Future nature monument «Lake Bychje» is regional and situated in Volchihinskij district of Altai Krai. Complex investigation has been carried out during field seasons 2012–2013. The Electronic Data Base was created including list of vascular plant species (family, Red Data Book status and connection to the phytozenosis) growing on the territory of Lake Bychje. The characteristic of fauna and rare animal species have been revealed. A wide range of the plant communities is growing on this territory. Dry pine forest is situated along the bank of the lake; halophyte and hydrophyte vegetation grows on the shoreline. Upland is covered by the cheegrass communities. Animal world of the future nature monument territory includes two complexes — forest and lake-steppe. The full list includes 110 plant species, 4 of them are in Red Data Book of Altai Krai (2006) and 60 animals, 11 — in Red Data Book of Altai Krai (2006).