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Distribution, population status and protection of rare ephemeroids in the Komi Republic

Here, we report the data on modern state and protection prospects of plant species Anemone altaica Fisch. ex C.A.Mey., Anemone nemorosa L., Anemone ranunculoides L., Ficaria verna Huds. (Ranunculaceae), Corydalis solida (L.) Clairv. (Papaveraceae) and Gagea samojedorum Grossh. (Liliaceae) in the taiga zone of the Komi Republic. These ephemeroid species require a special research due to their biological features (short periods of vegetation in the spring and subtle presence in communities at later dates) and geographic localization. One of the species, Gagea samojedorum is an endemic of the Urals, other species are presented by populations on the border of their distribution areas. Until recently, studies of early-flowering ephemeroids in the north-east Russia have not been performed. However, such studies become more and more important due to an active industrial development of the North. To assess the prospects for the conservation of rare early-flowering ephemeroids, we carried out work to clarify the number of locations of species on the territory of the Komi Republic, compiled maps of their distribution (See Fig. 1), collected and summarized information about the area, the number and the structure of 44 coenopopulations (See Tables 1 and 2), as well as identified limiting factors. It is shown that at the edge of the distribution area, ephemeroid species often have fragmented habitat range due to ecological and phytocoenotical preferences. They occur sporadically in the river and stream floodplains (sometimes at limestones) where soils are moist and fertile. In the floodplain meadows and forests, ephemeroids can form one-two species ecotopical assemblages. The populations of ephemeroids are linear, often with a high number of individuals. Self-recovering of short-root Anemone altaica, A. nemorosa, A. ranunculoides and root-tuber Ficaria verna is made, mainly, by vegetative reproduction. Tuber species Corydalis solida is propagated only by seeds. The ontogenetic structure of populations indicates a decline in seed and vegetative reproduction rate in these species at the edges of distribution areas (See Fig. 2 and 3). The Ural endemic Gagea samojedorum occurs in herbal habitats and sparse forests in foothill and mountain areas of the Ural Mountains, where it forms abundant populations with the prevalence of young individuals. A high reproduction rate of Gagea samojedorum is due to the variability of vegetative reproduction. In the Komi Republic, the anthropogenic impact on the ephemeroid species is low due to a low level of industrial development and population. Natural abiotic and biotic factors are more significant here and may weaken species positions in plant communities, as well as limit the growth, development and self-recovering of the populations. By now, Anemone altaica, A. nemorosa, A. ranunculoides, Corydalis solida, Ficaria verna and Gagea samojedorum have been included in regional Red Books of plants with the protection category 3 (rare). The main reasons for their inclusion are the edge location, small number, isolation of the local populations and often relic origin. Gagea samojedorum is also an endemic species. The object of the UNESCO World Heritage List “Virgin Komi Forests” and the number of regional reserves are important for the preservation of ephemeroid plants in the North.