Distribution, population status and protection of rare ephemeroids in the Komi Republic

Rare ephemeroid plant species, including Anemone altaica and Gagea samojedorum, face significant population decline at the edges of their distribution areas due to ecological constraints and limited reproductive success. Gagea samojedorum, an endemic Ural species, maintains high reproduction rates through vegetative variability, while other species show reduced seed and vegetative reproduction. The study mapped 44 coenopopulations across the Komi Republic, revealing fragmented habitats in river floodplains and moist forests, where these species form ecotopical assemblages. Anthropogenic impacts are minimal, with natural abiotic and biotic factors posing greater threats to their survival. All studied species are listed in regional Red Books (Category 3: rare), emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts, particularly within UNESCO's Virgin Komi Forests.

Teteryuk, L. V., Valuyskikh, O. E., Kirsanova, O. F.,. (2021). Distribution, population status and protection of rare ephemeroids in the Komi Republic. Vestnik Tomskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta. Biologiya, (53), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.17223/19988591/53/5