Экология

Each family of higher vascular plants demonstrates a certain degree of ecological community. In this paper, the ecological characteristics of families were estimated by the ratio of groups of hygromorphs (ecological groups of species in relation to soil moisture conditions). Hygromorphs are part of the general sys- tem of plant ecomorphs, which was developed by A. L. Belgardas. The characteristics of the families of the flora of Samara region are compiled on the basis of data on 8 groups of hygromorphs.

Floristic diversity is part of the overall biodiversity of the area and is associated with its sustainability. At present, there are several views on the classification of biodiversity due to the rather large number of its forms. The dependence of the species richness of flora on various factors was studied in a number of works. The influence of geographic factors on the species diversity of flora within the Soksky physiographic region of the forest-steppe zone (part of the province of the High Transvolga, Samara Region) is analyzed.

 posed to any significant anthropogenic impact due to the sufficient remoteness and inaccessibility of habitats. The area occupied by the associations does not exceed 400 m2. The total projective cover amounts to 90–100 %. The associations are quite rich and relatively even in terms of species composition. The number of species ranges from 48 to 72, and the most homogeneous association is the one in Krasnoarmeysky raion which also occupies the smallest territory. The number of species registered in one and the same association varies from one year to the next.

The environmental quality in the territory of Yakutsk city has been assessed by the leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and seed quality (germinating capacity and germination energy) of the silver birch Betula pendula Roth. A total of 2,300 birch leaves were collected at 25 sites in vicinity of roadways and 21 samples of seeds were collected in the same sites. FA level at different sites varied within 0.042–0.057, which implies that the environmental quality varied from relatively normal to critical.

To assess the ecological status of water bodies, phytoplankton development indicators are widely used. The article deals with the use of microalgae in the assessment of water quality using the example of the Barskoye Lake. Collection and processing of hydrobiological material were carried out in the autumn of 2016 by standard methods. Phytoplankton is represented by 76 taxa below the genus belonging to 7 divisions: Chlorophyta (30), Bacillariophyta (16), Cyanophyta/Cyanoprocaryota (12), Euglenorhyta (7), Chrysorhyta (5), Сryptоphyta (3), Dinophyta (3).

The study of intraspecific variability of rare plants allows to estimate the level of phenotypical variability, to establish borders of populations, to characterize microevolutionary processes, to reveal the ecological factors influencing formation of structure of populations that finally promotes preservation of a gene pool of rare species. Work purpose: studying of intraspecific variability of rare species Iris pumila L. in the south of the Cis-Urals of Bashkortostan Republic.

The characteristics of the flora and steppe communities of the nature monument of regional importance of the Saratov region «Blue Mountain » is given. The flora of the territory has preserved features of the forest, which is manifested in the head of the family spectrum of the corresponding floristic sample. At the same time as a result of the fires that occurred, the type of forest changed: the oak tree was replaced by aspen. A high position in the family spectrum of Rosaceae is noted, which is not typical for the subzone of turf-grass steppes.

Inventory needing protection plant communities is one of the directions of modern phytocenosical and ecologocal research. The Экология 365 information-technology support play the important role. This article provides information about the structure of electronic database “Needing protection plant communities of the Saratov region”.

Pear moth – Cydia pyrivora is a narrow oligophage, whose larvae feed on the pith and pulp of fruit pears. In the region the species is connected here with warm biotopes on the Volga’s slopes and inhabits garden plots and abandoned gardens with pear trees. The areal extent in the north-east of the European part of Russia is considered for the pear moth Cydia pyrivora over a 60-year period.

We researched the nesting habits of the common starling and the tree sparrow in a woodland of Engels city altered by humans, the Saratov region. Birds’ selectivity in the choice of nesting holes was found. The way birds use nesting trees in different vital condition was researched. The estimation of spatial distribution of nests was made by the method called “the nearest neighbor”.