ONTOGENETIC MUSEUM OF PLANTS OF MARI STATE UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Detailed studies of individual life – ontogenesis – of the living beings that make up the biosphere, form the basis for preserving and maintaining biological diversity. The purpose of the study undertaken is generalization of the data accumulated up to now about the plant ontogenesis that form the basis of vegetation of Russian natural zones and visualization of these data in the materials of the ontogenetic museum, which was created on the initiative of Professor L. A. Zhukova in 1991 and which is included in the Eurasian Association of university museums, and since 2013 has been officially registered (code MARI) in the New York Botanical Garden database. Theoretical bases and methods of researching the plant ontogeny and cenotic population structure were created by T. A. Rabotnov and A. A. Uranov and were implemented by their students and followers in the study of ontogenesis and ontogenetic structure of plant cenotic populations of different natural zones. The results are reflected in the seven volumes of ontogenetic atlas of medicinal plants and are visualized in the herbarium of ontogenetic states of plants, which currently includes 607 species of higher plants. These materials contribute to the development of population-ontogenetic trend in botany and plant ecology and are the basis for preparing highly qualified biologists.

Keywords

• plants
• ontogenesis
• herbarium
• seeds
• stands
• photograph collection
• picture collection