Rare and protected pteridophytes of the Baikalian Siberia

The antiquity of the origin of such group as pteridophytes, complex biology of the development and reproduction deter- mine their low competitiveness in the formation of current phytocenoses. Weak resistance to anthropogenic and technogenic loadings allows us to classify pteridophytes as valuable objects of environmental monitoring in the diagnosis of the state of regional forest ecosystem. Interesting in this respect are the rarest species, included in the Red Book, the conservation and rational use of which is most relevant. The results of the analysis of the list of rare and protected pteridophytes of the Baikal Siberia, their biomorphological, ecological and horologic characteristics are given in the study. Seventeen species of pteridophytes included into the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the regions of the Baikal Siberia (Irkutsk Region, the Republic of Buryatia, Transbaikalian Region) have been specified. It is recom- mended to include 11 pteridophytes into the list of protected plants at the federal and regional levels: e...