VARIABILITY OF THE ONTOGENETIC STRUCTURE OF THE COENOPOPULATIONS OF TULIPA BIFLORA PALL. (LILIACEAE) IN KALMYKIA

Abstract

Background. Population-ontogenetic studies are important for assessing the state of natural ecosystems, identifying and monitoring protected natural areas, forming and maintaining Red Books at the level of Regions of Russia as a whole, describing ecological and biological indicators of plant species. The species Tulipa biflora is recommended for protection in Kalmykia and many other regions of Russia. Purpose. Study of the variability of the ontogenetic structure of T. biflora coenopopulations in Kalmykia. Materials and methods. The research was carried out in 10 species populations of T. biflora growing in the Caspian lowland and on the Ergeninsky upland within the republic of Kalmykia during the growing seasons of 2016-2018. The ontogenetic structure of coenopopulations was studied using classical population-ontogenetic approaches and methods [8, 11, 13-15 и др.]. The ability of the coenopopulation to self-renewal was assessed using the recovery index Ib [14], the age index (Δ) [11] and the efficiency index (ω) [1]. Results. During the three-year study period in 10 populations of T. biflora in the conditions of Kalmykia, the frequency of occurrence of plants of different age conditions was determined, ontogenetic spectra of populations and basic spectra of the species were constructed. By calculating a number of indices, the ontogenetic types of populations are determined. Conclusion. The age structure of T. biflora cenopopulations in the conditions of Kalmykia is very dynamic, the ratio of age groups varies greatly, but fits into 1-3 ontogenetic types by year.

Keywords

• tulipa biflora
• coenopopulation
• ontogenetic structure of coenopopulation
• ontogenetic type of coenopopulation
• basic ontogenetic spectrum of coenopopulation