METHODOLOGICAL BASIS FOR ASSESSING THE STATE OF KUNGUR FOREST-STEPPE ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

The paper proposes a methodology for assessing the state of extrazonal ecosystems of the Kungur foreststeppe. As assessment criteria, it uses the phase of ecosystem transformation, the proportion of plant species of atypicalecological-coenotic groups, the share of segetal species, the share of invasive plant species, and the portion of area devoidof vegetation. The developed methodology has been tested on ecosystems under significant anthropogenic impact. Themethod will provide an opportunity to identify the nature and rate of succession processes in specific ecosystems inspecially protected natural areas of the Kungur forest-steppe.Using the example of ecosystems characteristic of the Kungur forest-steppe within the boundaries of speciallyprotected natural areas of regional significance, the ecological-cenotic composition of plant communities is considered,the proportions of synanthropic, segetal, rare, and protected plant species in phytocenoses have been determined. Thepaper states the need for developing a regional list of synanthropic plant species and a list of indicator species highlightingthe ecosystem value from the standpoint of biodiversity conservation. Based on such lists, it would be possible to developindices for assessing the state of ecosystems. It also appears reasonable to develop a software product on the basis of themethodology.The study has analyzed data from 2003-2023 on the state of the ecosystems and their components in the Kungurforest-steppe within the boundaries of specially protected natural areas. The data were obtained with the help of methodology assessing the state of ecosystems in protected areas developed in 2011 at Perm State University. It has been established that over the past 20 years, the average weighted degree of degradation of the vegetation cover of the protectedareas of the Kungur forest-steppe has remained at the level of slightly degraded. According to monitoring data from 2023,the state of the Kungur forest-steppe extrazonal ecosystems is characterized as very slightly degraded.