Siberian species on the steppe stations of the northwestern exclave of the meadow steppe

Abstract

Climate warming has revived interest in the problem of species migration, changing vegetation boundaries. “Oka flora” in the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve is an isolated fragment of steppe communities in the zone of coniferous-deciduous forests. Its peculiarity is the significant participation of Siberian and Caucasian species. According to the results of long-term observations (25 years), the participation of Siberian species in steppe test sites was evaluated. In the steppe communities of the reserve, a relic floristic core is isolated, which includes species of glacial time (Carex obtusata, Draba sibirica, etc.) and species of warm Atlantic Time (Melica picta). The main part species in steppe test sites are typical steppe or meadow-steppe species, identical to the zonal meadow steppes. Modern research is devoted to identifying the features of biotopes of steppe communities. It has been established that steppe biotopes are the driest and warmest in the reserve. In recent years, there has been an expansion of the area of dense-grain cereals. Observations suggest that the ecosystem is capable of holding a pool of many species for a long time, although not all species manifest themselves in conditions of changing climatic trends. Herbaceous vegetation, depending on the hydrothermal conditions of the upper soil horizons, is the most mobile.