Dataset for vascular plants in the Red Data Books of Transbaikalia: species distribution and pathways towards their conservation

The dataset of the Red Data Book vascular plants of Transbaikalia was created based on the latest editions of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Buryatia and the Red Data Book of the Zabaikalsky Krai (Russia). The dataset provides the most updated information regarding the distribution of 271 rare vascular plants (2920 distribution records). The distribution of the studied species was recorded during field surveys using GPS navigators, georeferenced from herbarium specimens, and digitised from printed distribution maps. Each entry in the dataset has various attributes, including belt zone, distribution, ecological, and life-form group features. Distribution patterns for various groups of rare and endangered species were analysed by means of QGIS 3.10 software. Our study has revealed a number of localities of vascular plants listed in the Red Data Book and clarified their distribution within the federal Protected Areas of Transbaikalia, among which Tunkinsky National Park has the highest diversity. Distribution of some rare and endangered species falls under federal protection, but some plants, including endemic species, require better protection. Analysis of various belt zones and distribution groups showed their distinct spread within the study region. Among the studied species, mesophytes and short rhizome perennial plants prevailed. It is also important to preserve vascular plants in the Red Data Book outside Protected Areas. Hence, information from our dataset can be useful for conservation monitoring programmes. Our study provides a basis for future conservation activities and can be applied in the establishment of new Protected Areas or Important Plant Areas in Transbaikalia

Siberian plants shift their phenology in response to climate change

Siberia has undergone dramatic climatic changes due to global warming in recent decades. Yet, the ecological responses to these climatic changes are still poorly understood due to a lack of data. Here, we use a unique data set from the Russian ‘Chronicles of Nature’ network to analyse the long-term (1976–2018) phenological shifts in leaf out, flowering, fruiting and senescence of 67 common Siberian plant species. We find that Siberian boreal forest plants advanced their early season (leaf out and flowering) and mid-season (fruiting) phenology by −2.2, −0.7 and −1.6 days/decade, and delayed the onset of senescence by 1.6 days/decade during this period. These mean values, however, are subject to substantial intraspecific variability, which is partly explained by the plants' growth forms. Trees and shrubs advanced leaf out and flowering (−3.1 and −3.3. days/decade) faster than herbs (−1 day/decade), presumably due to the more direct exposure of leaf and flower buds to ambient air for the woody vegetation. For senescence, we detected a reverse pattern: stronger delays in herbs (2.1 days/decade) than in woody plants (1.0–1.2 days/decade), presumably due to the stronger effects of autumn frosts on the leaves of herbs. Interestingly, the timing of fruiting in all four growth forms advanced at similar paces, from 1.4 days/decade in shrubs to 1.7 days/decade in trees and herbs. Our findings point to a strong, yet heterogeneous, response of Siberian plant phenology to recent global warming. Furthermore, the results highlight that species- and growth form-specific differences among study species could be used to identify plants particularly at risk of decline due to their low adaptive capacity or a loss of synchronization with important interaction partners

Rare Legumes (Fabaceae Lindl.) in Buryatia: Geographic Distribution, Eco-Coenotic Confinement, Population Diversity, and Conservation Challenges

Комплексное исследование редких видов растений позволяет провести оценку состояния их популяций и разработать меры по их охране. В последние годы проведены детальные исследования редких бобовых на территории Республики Бурятия, что позволило выявить новые местонахождения, особенности ареалов видов и характер структуры их популяций. Цель исследования – обобщение имеющейся информации с учетом современных данных для разработки конкретных рекомендаций по охране редких видов бобовых на изучаемой территории. Исследование популяций изучаемых видов и растительных сообществ с их участием осуществляли традиционными методами. Анализ распространения видов проведен на основе базы данных локалитетов редких растений, разработанной для Республики Бурятия и включающей актуальную информацию из последнего переиздания Красной книги для данной территории. Рассмотрены хорология, эколого-ценотическая приуроченность и структура популяций редких видов семейства бобовых (Fabaceae Lindl.) в Бурятии. Проведена комплексная оценка структуры популяций ключевых видов с учетом особенностей их фитоценотической и географической приуроченности. Изученные популяции редких бобовых большей частью являются неполночленными (часто отсутствуют пре- и постгенеративные особи), дефинитивными, нормальными, зрелыми. Мономодальные спектры характерны для ценопопуляций из ненарушенных и малонарушенных местообитаний с пиком на средневозрастных особях. При наличии антропогенного воздействия или других экзогенных факторов наблюдаются бимодальные онтогенетические спектры. Стратегия охраны изучаемых видов должна основываться на территориальной охране и рациональном использовании сообществ с их участием. Необходимы дальнейшие исследования по изучению биологии и экологии видов, строгая охрана изолированных местообитаний, ведение регулярного мониторинга численности в известных популяцияхComplex studies of rare plant species allow to evaluate the status of their populations and develop an approach to their conservation. During the last years, detailed studies of rare legume species have been performed on the territory of Buryatia. They revealed new species localities, and characteristic features of species distribution and population structures. The goal of the current research is to summarize all available information including the latest data in order to develop practical recommendations for rare legume species conservation in the examined region. Populations of rare legumes and plant communities containing them were studied by traditional methods. Species distribution was analyzed using the locality database for rare vascular plants in Buryatia which contains critical information from the last edition of Red Data Book for the examined area. Distribution, eco-coenotic confinement and population structure of rare legume species in Buryatia were studied. The structure of key species populations was estimated with respect to their phytocoenotic and geographic confinement. Rare legumes populations are mostly insufficient (excluding juvenile and senile individuals), definitive, normal, and mature. Unimodal age spectra with prevalence of generative plants typical of populations from undisturbed habitats. Human impact or other exogenous factors led to formation of bimodal age spectra. The strategy for conservation of the examined species should be based on protection of their habitats and sustainable use of plant communities containing rare legumes. Further research into biological and ecological features of rare legumes, strict protection of isolated habitats, regular monitoring of populations sizes are require

Genetic Diversity of <i>Oxytropis</i> Species from the Center of the Genus Origin: Insight from Molecular Studies

The genus Oxytropis (Fabaceae) was formed from the ancient species of Astragalus presumably approximately 5.6 Ma ago in Southern Siberia. Our study summarized data on the genetic diversity of 69 populations of 31 Oxytropis species in the center of origin of the genus based on the sequencing of plastid genome markers. Most of the populations (82.6%) are characterized by high gene diversity (0.600–1.000), which indicates a relatively stable state. Phylogenetic relationships between most Oxytropis species remain unresolved. Three genetic complexes and four phyletic lineages have been identified. Some species form weakly differentiated complexes, which is probably caused by their relatively recent divergence and the demography processes, as well as interspecific hybridization and polyploidy characteristic of Oxytropis species

Chrysidide nouvelle [Hym.]

Buysson Robert du. Chrysidide nouvelle [Hym.]. In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 12 (8),1907. p. 138

Growth Decline Linked to Warming-Induced Water Limitation in Hemi-Boreal Forests

<div><p>Hemi-boreal forests, which make up the transition from temperate deciduous forests to boreal forests in southern Siberia, have experienced significant warming without any accompanying increase in precipitation during the last 80 years. This climatic change could have a profound impact on tree growth and on the stability of forest ecosystems in this region, but at present evidence for these impacts is lacking. In this study, we report a recent dramatic decline in the growth of hemi-boreal forests, based on ring width measurements from three dominant tree-species (<em>Pinus sylvestris, Larix sibirica</em> and <em>Larix gmelinii</em>), sampled from eight sites in the region. We found that regional tree growth has become increasingly limited by low soil water content in the pre- and early-growing season (from October of the previous year to July of the current year) over the past 80 years. A warming-induced reduction in soil water content has also increased the climate sensitivity of these three tree species. Beginning in the mid-1980s, a clear decline in growth is evident for both the pine forests and the larch forests, although there are increasing trends in the proxy of soil water use efficiencies. Our findings are consistent with those from other parts of the world and provide valuable insights into the regional carbon cycle and vegetation dynamics, and should be useful for devising adaptive forest management strategies.</p> </div

Temporal changes of mean sensitivity (<i>S_x</i>, 1928–2006) and a proxy of soil water use efficiency (P_SWUE, 1937–2005) relating to <i>P. sylvestris</i> (A, B), <i>L. sibirica</i> (C, D) and <i>L. gmelinii</i> (E, F).

<p>Lines in this figure are linear fits of <i>S_x</i> and P_SWUE for <i>P. sylvestris</i> (<i>y</i> = 0.0012<i>x–</i>2.26, <i>p</i><0.001), <i>L. sibirica</i> (<i>y</i> = 0.0027<i>x–</i>4.93, <i>p</i><0.05, <i>y</i> = 0.00083<i>x–</i>1.53, <i>p</i><0.001) and <i>L. gmelinii</i> (<i>y</i> = 0.0016<i>x–</i>2.97, <i>p</i><0.05; <i>y</i> = 0.00033<i>x</i>–0.55, <i>p</i><0.05) if there are significant trends as detected using Mann-Kendall test.</p

Evolution of shared growth variability explained by the first principal component (PC1) and relationships between PC1 and climate.

<p>Evolution of shared growth variability (estimated by the PC1) since 1928 using subintervals of 20 years with a 5-year lag was shown in (A) with a linear fit (black line, <i>y</i> = 0.53<i>x</i>+38.21, <i>r</i>² = 0.38, <i>p = </i>0.032). Simple correlations performed between the first principal component (PC1) and monthly temperature during 1928–2006 (B) and PDSI during 1937–2005 (C). The dotted lines in (B) indicate the 95% confidence intervals. Dark grey bars in (C) are statistically significant (<i>p</i><0.05). The relationship between the regional BAI series and the average PDSI values through October of prior year to July of current year during 1937–2005 was shown in (D) with a linear fit (black line, <i>y</i> = 0.17<i>x</i>+3.45, <i>r</i>² = 0.25, <i>p</i><0.001).</p

Basal area increments (blue lines), tree ring indices (red lines) and the anomalies of tree ring indices (bars) for <i>P. sylvestris</i> (A and B), <i>L. sibirica</i> (C and D) and <i>L. gmelinii</i> (E and F).

<p>Bold lines in the figure are the fitted cubic smoothing splines for basal area increments and tree ring indices.</p