Ecological and Biological Features of Rhodiola algida оn the Territory of the Akkol Mountain-Glacial Basin (Altai Republic)

On the territory of the Akkol mountain-glacial basin (South Chuysky ridge, Altai Republic, Russia), the phytocenotic location, the main parameters of the spatial and age structure of the population, and indicators of reproductive biology were established; the features of the morphology and anatomy of Rhodiola algida (Ledeb.) Fisch. et C.A. Mey. in various ecological and cenotic conditions were studied. R. algida is a valuable medicinal plant with anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory effects that stimulate the central nervous system. It contains salidroside, tyrosol, flavonoids, coumarins, etc. R. algida is a succulent-leaved, herbaceous, short-rhizome, and polycarpic plant with an elongated erect shoot. The species grow in the highlands of Altai, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Tuva Republic, and Northwestern Mongolia (Mongolian Altai) and is included in the regional red lists of Siberia for Altai Republic, Altai Krai, and Krasnoyarsk Krai. Field research was carried out in 2019-2020 on the northern macroslope of the South Chuysky ridge, in the area of the mountain-glacial basin of the river Akkol. The Akkol mountain-glacial basin is located in the central, most elevated part of the northern macroslope of the South Chuysky ridge. Distribution of R. algida in the territory of the mountain-glacial basin of the river Akkol is closely related to tundra cenoses that develop under conditions of excessive cold moisture. The greatest abundance of the species was recorded along river banks in moss sedge and shrub or prostrate shrub tundras (coenopopulations 1 and 3). As a result of population-ontogenetic analysis, it was established that all studied cenopopulations of R. algida are normal. Only one cenopopulation is complete (coeno-population 3), and the rest do not have individuals of the postgenerative period. The cenopopulations of R. algida are characterised by a predominantly left-sided type of ontogenetic spectrum, which is formed due to the predominance of individuals of young groups (juvenile - young generative). In conditions of rapid flowing moisture (on the banks of mountain streams and rivers), individuals are under the constant destructive influence of water flows eroding the soil and washing away young individuals. As a result, cenopopulations are formed with a very unstable age composition in the young part of the spectrum and a slow accumulation of individuals in the generative and post-generative states. The study of the morphological characteristics of a species in various cenopopula-tions makes it possible to assess its ecological plasticity and identify optimal environmental conditions for its growth and development. It has been established that the greater the foliage of generative shoots, the greater amount of dry matter is accumulated per leaf area. Despite the succulent leaf structure, leaf mass per area of R. algida is 3-5 times lower than that of true succulents and is more consistent with the vegetation of lowland and alpine meadows than with tundra vegetation. In the studied cenopopulations of R. algida, the main reproductive characteristics were studied, making it possible to assess the state of the species and the possibility of its self-sustainment in various natural and climatic conditions. In natural populations, R. algida is characterised by high reproductive rates (pollen fertility - 96-98%, fruit/flower percent ratio - 90-95%, seed productivity coefficient - 68-81%), which demonstrates the species' ability for successful seed regeneration. In areas with low overall projective vegetation cover, abundant self-seeding is observed. The seeds of R. algida are small, brown or brownish-brown, reticulate, oblong or oblanceolate in shape, and narrowed upward, 2.05-2.65 mm long and 0.55-0.90 mm wide. The weight of 1000 seeds varies from 0.13 g (coenopopulation 1) to 0.17 g (coe-nopopulation 2). Our studies have shown that the most optimal way to germinate R. algida seeds is to pre-treat them with a 0.1% solution of gibberellic acid. This allows achieving the maximum percentage of seed germination and, at the same time, significantly reduce the period of their germination. Stratification, lasting a month, when germinating seeds in laboratory conditions, did not have a significant effect on seed germination. The anatomical features of R. algida leaves were studied in two cenopopulations: cenopopulation 1 (shrub willow-sedge tundra) and cenopopulation 3 (shrub moss-forb-sedge tundra). It has been established that the species are ecologically plastic, and the signs of their adaptation to conditions with varying degrees of illumination have been identified. The article contains 9 Figures, 4 Tables and 45 References. The Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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