To investigation mountain-steppe relicts in Central Altai

УДК 581.527.4+581.9(235.222)

Abstract

The issue on importance of studying relict plant species for solving theoretical issues of the genesis and the evolution of modern floras, as well as the conservation of Siberia different regions phytodiversity, is discussed. Gorny Altai is of special interest for these purposes, since it has the wealthiest and most varied flora, is characterized by a variety of climatic conditions (from humid to semiarid), soil and plant cover, frontier position between Mongolia, Central and Middle Asia, Siberia. Multi-Year Researches of the Gorny Altai nature allowed to discover in a fairly complete manner the species composition of the flora and the characteristics of the Altai various regions vegetation. Paleogeographic reconstructions of changes in the natural conditions of Altai are represented by various, sometimes contradictory theories and hypotheses. An attempt was made to analyze the distribution and the ecology of three mountain-steppe relict plant species based on the concepts of paleogeography to determine their relative age and confirm their correspondence to some or other paleogeographic reconstructions. The territory of Central Altai (Yaloman depression, the Katun and Chuya river valleys) was chosen for the study, since there are clear evidences of changes in nature (climate and topography) in the late Pleistocene. The following mountain-steppe species, which have similar geographic distribution and ecology in the Gorny Altai, were chosen for the study: Microstigma deflexum (Bunge) Juz., Gueldenstaedtia monophylla Fisch., and Arnebia guttata Bunge. The studied plant species have a disjunctive range, low activity, narrow ecological amplitude and small population level, which confirms their relict nature. Microstigma deflexum and G. monophylla are South Siberian and Mongolian paleoendemics. It was found that they have different ages, origins and emergences in the flora of Central Altai. All studied species are included in the regional Red Data Books of the Altai Republic, the Republic of Tuva, and Mongolia. It is proposed to create specially protected natural reservations in the area of the Bolshoi Yaloman mouth and the Chuya mouth. It would make sense to organize monitoring of the state of these species populations in the wild, since the introduction of these highly specific species in the Siberia botanical gardens is hard pressed to do.