UDC 574.3:581 (470.67)

Magomedova B.M., Asadulaev Z.M. GEOBOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNITIES WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF SALSOLA DAGHESTANICA (TURCZ.) TURCZ.) ON THE ARID SLOPES OF RIDGES EASTERN CAUCASUS // Arid ecosystems. 2022. V.28. № 3 (92). P. 72-78. | PDF

The results of the study of communities with the participation of Dagestan saltwort (Salsola daghestanica (Turcz.) Turcz.) in Piedmont and Inner-mountain Dagestan, where 108 species of flowering plants were identified, among which are: Caragana grandiflora (M. Bieb) DC.); endemics of the Greater Caucasus: Matthiola caspica (Busch) Grossh., Salvia canescens CA Mey, Elytrigia gracillima Nevski; endemic of Dagestan Convolvulus ruprechtii Boiss., as well as a species listed in the Red Data Book of Russian Federation Artemisia salsoloides Willd. Identified associations with the growth of a rare endemic species of Dagestan S. daghestanica Salsolosum graminioso-xeroherbosum, Salsolosum graminioso-artemisosum, Caraganetum varioherboso-graminosum, Caraganetum salsoloso-artemisosum are found only in the territory of the Eastern Caucasus. Caraganetum salsoloso-artemisosum was described on three sample plots on the northwestern and eastern slopes of the Nadyrbek Ridge with a steepness of 30-40º (near the village of Dubki, Piedmont Dagestan). The shrub layer (crown density up to 45%) is formed by 12 species, dominated Salsola daghestanica (Turcz.) Turcz. and Caragana grandiflora (M. Bieb) DC. The total cover of the grass-shrub layer is up to 60%; the species richness is relatively low (40 species), dominated by Artemisia taurica Willd. Caraganetum varioherboso-graminosum is described on the northwestern slope of the Nadyrbek Ridge (near the village of Dubki, Foothill Dagestan) with a steepness of 40º. The shrub layer (total crown density 29%) is formed by 9 species, the dominant is the large-flowered Caragana grandiflora DC., the occurrence of which is 20%. The herb-shrub layer is sparse, with a coverage of 4-5% there are Artemisia taurica Willd., Stipa caragana Trin., Salvia canescens C.A. Mey., Melica transsilvanica Schur. Salsolosum graminioso-artemisosum communities are described on the slopes of the Chakulabek Ridge in the vicinity of the village of Tsudahar (Inner mountain Dagestan). In a sparse tree-shrub (12%), S. daghestanica dominates with a crown density of 10%, prevails Colutea orientalis L., Spiraea hypericifolia L. The total projective cover of the grass-shrub layer is 54%; species richness is relatively low; Artemisia taurica Willd is dominant in abundance and projective cover (50%). Salsolosum graminioso-xeroherbosum is described on the slopes of the Chonkataw Ridge in the vicinity of the village Gubden (Foothill Dagestan). The tree-shrub layer is dominated by S. daghestanica with a crown density of 42%. In the grass-shrub layer, the dominant species with a projective cover of 3 to 5% are Artemisia taurica Willd (4%) and representatives of the Poaceae family: Festuca varia Haenke (4%), Elytrigia gracillima (3%), Stipa daghestanica Grossh.) (3%).

It is necessary to create protected areas in the areas of growth of the studied species for the conservation of plants in situ. The results of community studies are presented for the first time and can be used in monitoring work on rare endemic species.

Keywords: Salsola daghestanica, Dagestan, Red Book, plant communities, flora, endemic.

Financing. The work was carried out on the topic of the State Task of the Mountain Botanical Garden of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences «Geoclimatic features of distribution and description of communities with populations of rare and resource tree species of the North Caucasus» No. 1021032423798-8-1.6.11.

DOI: 10.24412/1993-3916-2022-3-72-78