This study evaluates the relationship between laboratory germination and biometric parameters of aglets of the critically endangered birch tree species Betula jarmolenkoana Golosk (Yarmolenko birch). The Yarmolenko birch is a very rare, narrowly endemic species, growing at an altitude of 1,900-2,100 m above sea level and only in the basins of three rivers (Kakpak, Bayynkol, and Tekes) in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. Therefore, research is currently needed to increase the stability of birch forests and determine the optimal ways to preserve them. The study aimed to establish the nature of the relationship between laboratory germination and biometric parameters of birch aglets. To conduct surveys on the Yarmolenko birch forests, six sampling areas were selected, and five trees of close age (VI-VII age classes) were selected and marked in each sampling area. At the end of summer (August), after the seeds had reached physiological maturity (yellowing of the aglet core), 100 pieces of aglets were collected from trees at a height of 2.0 to 2.5 m and weighed on electronic scales. The data obtained were processed using methods of variational statistics, and the average values, coefficient of variability, and standard error of the average value were calculated. Student's t-test was used to compare features between the areas. The relationship between biometric parameters and seed germination was identified and statistically substantiated. According to three-year observations, in some areas of the forest, especially in areas with young and medium-aged plants, the morphometric parameters of aglets were not the same and did not repeat in different years. This was due to the weather conditions of the year of aglet formation and the growth and development of seeds.
The forests of Kazakhstan, and in particular the ash riparian forests of the Charyn National Nature Park, as part of the unique natural complexes of Almaty region, have special ecological, historical, scientific, aesthetic and recreational value. Moreover, the fraxinus sogdiana trees in the Charyn Ash Dacha are relict and specially protected. Against the background of increasing anthropogenic impact, general aridisation of ecosystems and xerophytisation of vegetation cover, preservation and restoration of these stands of trees is becoming a problem not only for the region, but also for the whole country. All this forms the relevance of the study. The purpose of the study was to investigate the regularities and characteristics of natural regeneration of fraxinus sogdiana on the banks of the Charyn River in the territory of the Charyn National Nature Park, to identify and analyse the main factors that can improve the rates of natural regeneration of riparian forest in Kazakhstan in the future. The theoretical basis of the study lies in the analysis of scientific works and highly specialised materials by domestic and foreign authors in the field of forestry, ecology and nature conservation on the subject of this study. The methodological approach to fulfilling the tasks set was based on general scientific Methods, in particular observation, measurement, evaluation, a systematic comparative analysis of the material obtained, as well as computational mathematical methods. Qualitative representative material of the expanded field experiment enabled to calculate the level of natural regeneration of fraxinus sogdiana on the control plots of the study area. The control of seed yield by sight method, as well as by using O.G. Kapper's scale allowed to estimate the volume and quality of seed material in 2019–2020, as well as to make a hypothesis on the expected yield for the year 2021. In the course of the work an assessment of natural regeneration of fraxinus sogdiana on the bank of the Charyn River (the number of germinating seedlings) at the rate of 1 thousand pieces per 1 ha with division of the territory into zones (No. 1 - No. 6) depending on forest level was carried out. The comparative analysis revealed that the natural regeneration of monitoring sites No. 1 and No. 4 can be assessed as "good", while the natural regeneration of monitoring sites No. 2 and No. 5 can be assessed as "satisfactory" and the natural regeneration of monitoring sites No. 3 and No. 6 - as "poor". In addition to the practical field work, an in-depth analysis of worldwide scientific publications on the topic under study was conducted to formulate possible solutions to the problem.
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