Vol 109, No 11 (2024)

The aim of the study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the bryoflora of technogenic landscapes of the Podmoskovye Brown Coal Basin, and to assess their role in the conservation of rare bryophytes. 124 species have been identified as part of the bryoflora of the technogenic landscapes. In terms of species diversity, the bryoflora of the studied area is significantly richer than that of the coal-mining regions of Kuzbass and Lviv Podillya. This is due to the long period of non-operation, favorable climatic conditions, and a complex landscape structure, including large quarry-lake complexes. 25 species have been identified in the bryoflora of individual spoil tips with adjacent territories (from 7 to 20 species in one object); 116 species in the bryoflora of quarry-lake complexes of coal mines, the number of species varying from 23 (Petrushevsky mine) to 80 species (Suvorov quarries).

In the composition of the moss cover of technogenic landscapes, the species with a score of 1 (rare species with very low coverage) prevail – 44%, the species with a score of 2 (rather low local occurrence and relatively low coverage) are second-prevailing – 32%. There are 13% only of sporadic species with moderate indexes of both coverage and abundance (moderately active); the share of active species, i.e. frequent, highly and moderately abundant (scores 4 and 5) is only 15% in total.

In the landscape structure of quarry-lake landscapes, standing out by species diversity are aquatic and slope landscapes (40 species each) and old-age pine plantations (35); on manes, 30 species were identified; on rocky sides of quarries, in ravines and in fragments of natural oak-lime forests – 25 in each; on plumes and infrastructure facilities – 20 in each. Poor species composition was noted on wastelands (10) and in runoff hollows (7).

The largest number of species (60) grows on relatively formed soils, about 30 ones are found on large stone blocks, and 24 species are found on woody substrates. 22–28 species grow on substrates with the most extreme environmental conditions (coal soil mixtures, washed soils, crumble), with predominance of acrocarpous mosses, highly active and regularly spore-bearing, acidophilic mesophytes, as well as anthropotolerant species, indifferent to the chemistry of the substrate and the degree of its moisture.

The technogenic landscapes of the Podmoskovye Brown Coal Basin give shelter to a large number of rare species (about 20% of the species composition), 6 species being listed in the regional Red Data Books, and the condition of their populations is satisfactory and good. Currently, only one object (Konduki, Ushakovsky Mine) has the status of a protected landscape of local importance. It is advisable to organize the protection of such landscape-biologically and aesthetically valuable objects as the Kimovskiye Lakes, Suvorovskiye quarries, quarry-lake landscapes of the Gryzlovsky and Bogoroditsky coal mines.

The description of the landscapes, vegetation and flora of the site “Tonel River Mouth” located in the west of the protected zone of the Putorana Reserve, is given. Botanical-geographical studies of its territory were not conducted previously. The landscapes of the territory are atypical for the northwest of the Putorana Plateau – the mountains are relatively low; there is a wide terraced river valley; the boundaries of vegetation belts are blurred; in the tundra belt, meadow tundras are common and depressed trees are often present; belt of cold mountain deserts is missing; in the valley, large-bumpy (frost mound) peatlands occur, which are not characteristic of Putorana. Specific features of vegetation – the absence of forests with one-species tree stands, rich meadows on the mountain slopes, tall park grass birch forests, high-grass willow thickets in the valley and at the lake shores, communities of hydrophytes in shallow waters. The vascular plant flora includes 426 species and subspecies of 163 genera from 59 families, among them there are the species new to Putorana and Taimyr region as a whole. Based on the predominance of boreal species in the composition of the flora and higher participation of Eurasian species compared to Asian ones, it is possible to attribute the flora of the site to the Eurasian boreal type. The electronic appendix contains a complete annotated list.

Cystocoleus ebeneus, was discovered for the first time in the Prielbrusye National Park in the Elbrus region of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It is the species new to the Caucasian lichen flora, and the first member of the Cystocoleaceae family recorded in the Caucasus. The full description of the species and its current taxonomic position, data on its habitat in the National Park, ecological peculiarities and distribution in Russia and in the world are given.

A.A. Achimova’s book “Plant food of the Altai people” (two editions) contains information on the plants used by the local population of Altai for food. There are minor indigenous peoples which are well versed in the use of plants for food. For each mentioned plant, their local names (phytonyms) are given, along with Russian and scientific Latin names, the ethnic groups that use these plants are indicated, the names of national dishes and recipes of Altai traditional plant-based dishes are given. The main chemicals contained in the plants are indicated. 112 plant species from 87 genera and 44 families of the local flora have been characterized, which are divided into groups according to their practical use: nut-bearing, beverage, fruit and berry, vegetable and salad, spice flavouring, starch-bearing and bread, vitamin-bearing, nectar-bearing, oil-bearing, plants used for milk fermentation. Vegetable and salad plants have the largest number of phytonyms. The food plants of the Turkic people of Southern Siberia have similarities in use and processing with their use by the Altaians. Recently, in the Altai there is an interest in natural local products and the production of goods based on plant raw materials using national Altai recipes. The publications were supported by the national programs of the Altai Republic. The book is illustrated with color photographs. The monograph is an annotated synopsis of the ethnoculture of the Altai people, which allows to preserve information on the roots of traditional values.