Status of local populations of protected species Psephellus marschallianus (Asteraceae) in the Stavropol region

Abstract

Psephellus marschallianus is distributed in the steppe zone of Eastern Europe, in the North Caucasus only in the Stavropol region. This species has a narrow ecological affinity and can disappear when overgrown with stony substrates. Therefore, the work aimed at studying the state of local populations of P. marschallianus is of scientific interest and is relevant. Field studies were conducted according to the methods recommended for the study of rare species. Geobotanical descriptions are made according to generally accepted methods. The area, number and density of individuals were determined, and the ontogenetic structure was studied, which allowed us to characterize the state and prospects for the development of Psephellus marschallianus populations. For the first time, the state of the species was assessed according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The condition and structure of 5 local populyations of Psephellus marschallianus (ASTERACEAE), a protected species in the Stavropol Krai, has been studied. The area of the local populyations, number and density of individuals are determined, the ontogenetic structure, allowing to characterize a condition and the prospects of development of populyations of Psephellus marschallianus is studied. For the first time, an assessment of the condition of the species according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is given.