On the preservation of unique communities under recreation loading: from the experience of bioecological monitoring in Strelnaya mountain

At the scientific station on Strelnaya mountain in the area of the excursion flooringl, the growth of 165 vascular plants species belonging to 130 genera and 39 families is shown. The list of species includes 5 plant species from the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 24 plant species and 2 species of lichen included in the Red Book Samara region. On the sample plots bordering the steppe communities the grass cover is formed by Thymus zheguliensis Klokov et Des.-Shost., Echinops ritro L., Carex pediformis C.A. Mey., Psephellus carbonatus (Klokov) Greuter, Gypsophila juzepczukii Ikonn., Elymus lolioides (P. Candargy) Melderis, Artemisia campestris L., Potentilla incana G. Gaertn., B. Mey. et Scherb. An active recreational load on the studied biotopes interferes with the restoration of disturbed plant communities. The degree of trampling has increased during last years. Leading in terms of the total species number are the biotopes of forest edges and steppe meadows; indicators of a part of steppe and forest biotopes are close to them. The minimum species number per unit area is demonstrated by transect 1 on the slope at the beginning of the excursion trail, which experiences the maximum trampling load. With a maximum number of 13 species (a slight trampling load and a large projective grass cover), the number of lichen biota species could decrease to 3-4. This was the result of both the trampling load and the specificity of the formed groups of higher plants.