Structure of cenopopulations Clausia aprica (Stephan) Korn.-Tr. on the border of the area

Abstract

The aim of this work was to identify and analyze the ontogenetic and spatial structure of steppe plant Clausia aprica (Stephan) Korn.-Tr. (Brassicaceae) cenopopulations at the border of distribution. The study of cenopopulations and their habitat conditions was conducted at 2006–2021 in Samara, Volgograd, and Orenburg Oblasts (Russian Federation). For the first time determined the polyvariance of development of individuals, the duration of ontogenetic stages and complete ontogenesis, peculiarities of spatial location and evaluation of running window methods. A table of prohibitions and resolutions of transitions between ontogenetic states was compiled for C. aprica ontogenesis. It was found that permissions of transitions between ontogenetic states are 37.8%. In natural cenopopulations, mutual transitions of individuals from one ontogenetic state to another has adaptive significance and determines the dynamics of the ontogenetic structure. At intervals of 6-8 years, a slight increase in the number of C. aprica individuals is observed in the populations, which is ensured by the efficiency of seed reproduction. Thus, self-maintenance and self-renewal of species populations is possible in case of low level of anthropogenic impact on vegetation cover of territories.