What is it about?
For the first time for the south-east of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the composition of vascular plants in local populations of the steppe marmot has been specially studied. In the habitats of marmots, 469 species of vascular plants from 243 genera and 58 families have been registered. Plants of the Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Rosaceae families dominate the flora. 105 plant species from 90 genera and 27 families have been recorded on butanes and their marginal zones. In these areas, a high proportion of adventitious plants (21 species), mainly annuals and biennials (33,4%), was noted.
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Why is it important?
In the habitats of marmots, 46 species of plants of the regional Red Book are registered, representatives of Asteraceae and Poaceae dominate among them. Steppe species predominate in the composition of ecological and phytocenotic groups. In the course of research, 2 species new to the Nizhny Novgorod region were discovered: Silaum silaus (L.) Schinz & Thell. and Bassia sedoides (Schrad.) Asch.
Perspectives
Thus, as a result of manifestations of activity in burrowing holes and trampling the soil, marmots create new habitats for plant settlement, contributing to an increase in phytodiversity.
Alexey Andreychev
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Influence of steppe marmot burrowing (Marmota bobak) on the floral composition of the steppe areas in the south-east of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University Electronic Scientific Journal, January 2023, Orenburg State Pedagogical University,
DOI: 10.32516/2303-9922.2023.46.8.
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