The condition of the populationsof Paeonia anomala (Paeoniaceae) at the northern edge of the West Siberian habitat

In West Siberia, near the northern edge of the Paeonia anomala area, three new siteswere found (in the Khanty-Mansiisk and the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Districts), one ofwhich is located to the north of the Arctic circle in the valley of the Taz River. Geobotanicaldescriptions of the phytocoenoses involving Paeonia anomala have been developed. Qualitativeparameters of the populations of P. anomala such as area, density and magnitude aregiven. For two populations, age spectra are given. The biological condition of the specimensfrom the Arctic population of P. anomala in West Siberia is discussed.In the left-bank part of the valley of the Ob River, populations of Paeonia anomala werefound on a bushed meadow (Rosa majalis, Thalictrum minus, Poa palustris, Plantago major)and in a bushed birch forest with grass layer (Betula pendula, Sorbus sibirica, Rosa acicularis,Rubus saxatilis, Calamagrostis neglecta, Gymnocarpium dryopteris) formed on leveledsurfaces of residual mountains on the first terrace above the flood-plain. The low magnitudeand density of the populations suggest a significant anthropogenic load.The population found in the valley of the Taz River is the only one in the Arctic partof the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. It covers the right-bank sides of the valleywith southern, south-western, south-eastern and western exposition and slope angle between30-45°. The population exists in a bushed birch and larch forest with grass layer(Larix sibirica, Betula pubescens, Duschekia fruticosa, Sorbus sibirica, Rosa majalis,Lonicera pallasii, Ribes hispidulum, Calamagrostis canescens, Paeonia anomala). Thepopulation in the valley of the Taz River does not bear any significant anthropogenicload, as suggested by the normal (one-peak) type of its age spectrum, its high density andmagnitude. This is a reference population for the conditions of the northern part of WestSiberia. The territorial unit on the right-bank side of the valley of the Taz River should berecommended for the list of protected areas of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District.

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