Abundance dynamics of endangered plant species Galatella rossica (Asteraceae) in the Republic of Mordovia (Central Russia): short report

Khapugin & Kunaeva: Abundance dynamics of endangered species Galatella rossica (Asteraceae) in the Republic of Mordovia: Short Report Arnaldoa 24 (1): 239 - 246, 2017 http://doi.org/10.22497/arnaldoa.241.24109 ISSN: 1815-8242 (edición impresa) ISSN: 2413-3299 (edición online) Abundance dynamics of endangered plant species Galatella rossica (Asteraceae) in the Republic of Mordovia (Central Russia): short report Dinámica de la abundancia de la especie de planta en peligro Galatella rossica (Asteraceae) en la República de Mordovia (Rusia Central): Reporte breve Anatoliy A. Khapugin Mordovia State Nature Reserve; Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Temnikov district, Pushta, 431230.-Mordovia State University; Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Bolshevistskaya Street, 68, 430005. Elena N. Kunaeva Municipal Educational Institution “Secondary school with the profound study of specific subjects №24”; 430032, Seradzskaya Street, 26A, Saransk, Republic of Mordovia, Russia e-mail: 24 (1): Enero - Junio, 2017 239 (VWHHVXQDUWtFXORGHDFFHVRDELHUWREDMRODOLFHQFLD&&B<1&KWWSVFUHDWLYHFRPPRQVRUJOLFHQVHVE\QF Khapugin & Kunaeva: Abundance dynamics of endangered species Galatella rossica (Asteraceae) in the Republic of Mordovia: Short Report Abstract Recibido 1-II-2017; Aceptado: 23-III-2017; Publicado: VI-2017; Edición online 30-V-2017 The population-based studies of vulnerable plant species provide important data on both their own ecological preferences and environmental conditions of habitats. Galatella rossica is endangered plant species included in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia (Central Russia). In the region, it is known from six micropopulations. None of them is located within the regional protected areas network. We have carried out the study of abundance dynamics for two of the known populations: for location 1 –between 2009-2013–, for location 2 –between 2004-2013–. We established that the number of individuals in both studied populations has decreased. It was caused by processes of afforestation and overgrowing in habitats by tall vegetation and shrubs (e.g., Salix spp., Spiraea crenata). We suggest the resumption of more detail population-based studies in the region. Keywords: Galatella rossica, Asteraceae, abundance dynamics, population-based studies, Republic of Mordovia, Red Data Book, afforestation, rare species. Resumen Los estudios poblacionales de especies de plantas vulnerables brindan importante información sobre sus preferencias ecológicas y condiciones ambientales de sus hábitats. Galatella rossica es una especie de planta en peligro incluida en el Libro Rojo de la República de Mordovia (Rusia Central). Se conocen seis micropoblaciones en esta región. Ninguna de ellas se ubica dentro de la red regional de áreas protegidas. Hemos llevado a cabo el estudio de la dinámica de la abundancia en dos de las poblaciones conocidas: en la ubicación 1 –entre 2009 y 2013–, en la ubicación 2 –entre 2004 y 2013–. Determinamos que el número de individuos en ambas poblaciones estudiadas ha disminuido. Esto fue causado por procesos de reforestación y sobrecrecimiento de vegetación alta y arbustos en sus hábitats (p. ej. Salix spp., Spiraea crenata). Sugerimos la reanudación de estudios de población más detallados en la región. Palabras clave: Galatella rossica, Asteraceae, dinámica de la abundancia, estudios poblacionales, República de Mordovia, libro rojo, reforestación, especie rara. Introduction The genus Galatella Cass. includes between 30 and 45 species distributed mainly throughout Europe, Russia, Iran, and from India to western China (Ling et al., 1985; Nesom & Robinson, 2007; Tzvelev, 1959). Its main centre of diversity is located within Eastern Europe and Russia. Although main systematic studies of the tribe invariably argued for the independence of the genus Galatella with respect to the genus Aster (Ling et al., 1985; Nesom, 1994a,b; Nesom & Robinson, 2007; Tzvelev, 1959), this viewpoint remains debatable in regional and national floras of Europe and Asia (Brouillet et al., 2009; Ekim, 2012; Ignatov, 2014; Nesom & Robinson, 2007). 240 24 (1): Enero - Junio, 2017 Galatella rossica Novopokr. is one of three Galatella species known in the Republic of Mordovia. This is perennial plant 25–150 cm. Numerous stems erect, covered by short hairs. Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate, glandular-punctate, 8 mm in width and up to 10 cm in length. Anthodes 7–12 mm in length and 8–12 mm in width. Disk flowers are jonquil-yellow, ray flowers – pinkishpurple. Fruits – achenes with albescent pappus (Ignatov, 2014; Merxmüller & Schreider, 1976; Tzvelev, 1994). According to different sources this species is named as Galatella sedifolia (L.) Greuter (Greuter, 2003), G. punctata (Waldst. et Kit.) Nees (Ignatov, 2014), Aster sedifolia L. subsp. sedifolius (Merxmüller & Schreider, 1976). We use the name Galatella rossica Novopokr. Khapugin & Kunaeva: Abundance dynamics of endangered species Galatella rossica (Asteraceae) in the Republic of Mordovia: Short Report in consistent with a synopsis flora of the Republic of Mordovia (Silaeva, 2010). This species is known from most regions of Central Russia, being rare to north. In Mordovia, it was included in regional Red Data Book with category 3 “Rare species” (Resolution, 2015) being known from 6 local populations (Fig. 1). All of them are located in the eastern part of Mordovia, primarily along the Sura river. All G. rossica populations are located outside of the established regional Protected Areas Network (Khapugin et al., 2017b). As a result of long-term studies of rare and endangered plants in the Republic of Mordovia, all species from regional Red Data Book were estimated according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012a,b, 2014). Amongst them, Galatella rossica was assessed as an Endangered taxon (Khapugin et al., 2017a). Long-term monitoring of plant populations often provides significant data about influence main factors on their vitality and status (Čtvrtlíková et al., 2016; Khapugin et al., 2016a; Trowbridge et al., 2016; Webster et al., 2005), especially, it concerns peripheral populations of plant species (Chau et al., 2013; Khapugin & Chugunov, 2015). Here we report the result of population-based survey of Galatella rossica in one of its locations within the Republic of Mordovia (Central Russia). Material and methods We investigated two closely located micropopulations on flood meadows in Bolshie Berezniki district of the Republic of Mordovia near the boundary with Ulyanovsk Region (Fig. 1). First of them is a population near lake Belyaevka (location 1: 54.166 N, 46.152 E). Vegetation cover is presented primarily by representatives of families Fabaceae and Poaceae. The bushes of Salix spp. (primarily – Salix cinerea L.) and Acer tataricum L. are located around this flood meadow. Second micropopulations is located near the former pioneer camp “Zelenaya Polyana” (lo (...truncated)