Monitoring of the biological diversity of vegetation in the vicinity of Lake Kravtsovo

Federal state budgetary scientific institution «North-Caucasus Federal Agricultural Research Centre», 356241, Mikhailovsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: lotos026@mail.ru

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to conduct plant monitoring in the vicinity of Lake Kravtsovo within the framework of preserving animal and plant world biodiversity. Lake-swamp Kravtsovo - a unique object of the Stavropol upland, here you can study the diversity of almost half of the entire flora and fauna of Stavropol Territory. 139 species of vascular plants were registered in the studied territory, among which 11 are subject to protection – Paeonia tenuifolia L., Cladium mariscus (L.) Ponl, Iris notha M. Bieb., I. halophila Pall., Adonis vernalis L., Calamagrostis canescens (Weber) Roth, Utricularia vulgaris L., Carex panicea L., C. ericetorum Pollich, Lythrum thesioides Bieb, Thelypteris palustris Schott. In the structure of the coenosis, the most part is occupied by forbs – 67 %, then cereals – 27 %, legumes in a smaller amount – 6 %. The composition and structure of the community are changed in some way by grazing of farm animals, land plowing and afforestation (a characteristic increase in the proportion of shrubs and trees). The initial stage of pasture degression and the associated increase in the role of associated grazing species (poisonous, prickly, poorly eaten and weedy) are observed. The horizontal structure of the vegetation cover is also heterogeneous.