RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF SOME RARE ARCTIC-ALPINE PLANT SPECIES IN THE CHORNOHORA MOUNTAINS (UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS)

Abstract

The influence of external factors on populations of rare arctic-alpine plant species was analysed. We revealed the negative impact of intensive trampling and grazing pressure on the structure of populations. We also found the positive effect of moderate trampling and availability of microsites in habitats of Loiseleuria procumbens and Salix herbacea populations. We have proposed to protect populations of Pedicularis oederi and Lloydia serotina through controlling demutation processes in ecosystems and through conserving natural conditions in the habitats, and if it is necessary to carry out actions of the active protection. It is important to control the abidance of regime on the natural protected area to conserve the habitat of Saussurea alpina on the Petros Mountain. We revealed that it was necessary to eliminate recreational load on the population of Saussurea alpina on the Brebeneskul Mountain by creation of the main tourist route through the roundabout path. It was established that the reproductive parameters of populations, in particular, the number of generative shoots, the coefficient of generative reproduction and recovery index, could be used as a sensitive indicators of anthropogenic changes.