SAPOZHNIKOVA-BOYLE, TATIANA G. Sustainable Ecosystems Institute, 0605 SW Taylors Ferry Rd., Portland, Oregon 97219. - Rare plants species on the Russian Far East.
As the result of flora analysis 200 rare vascular plants species were
determined with different categories and statuses of rarity. All of
them require special measures of monitoring or protection. The number
of centers of the species concentration can be observed in the
territorial distribution of the rare plants. Partly, because of
detailed flora studies were maintained unevenly in certain areas of
the vast region. Estimation of the species rarity and evaluation of
the protection requirements involve a number of methodic approaches.
Within the group 52 species are east-asian relicts, inhabiting mostly
in southern part of the region: Taxus cuspidata, Microbiota
decussata, Dioscorea nipponica and others. Also rare
aquatic species reach the northern limits of distribution in Asian
continent: Nuphar japonica, Nelumbo komarovii. In the
subgroup of rare endemic forest and alpine plants there are 60 species
whose ancestors could be typical mountainous species or genera, such
as Leontopodium blagoveshczenskyi, Saussurea kitamurana,
Saxifraga astilbeoides. In the southern and central parts of
the region 70 rare plants species are situated on the limits of
natural distribution: Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Smilax
maximowiczii, Sanicula rubriflora. Another large subgroup
of rare species requiring protection includes plants with decorative
and medicinal substances – 116 species and 48 respectively. It is
important to underscore that the subgroups mentioned above embrace
relict and endemic species. A human or anthropogenic type of impact in
the natural habitats of these species could often be selective. About
50% of the rare species populations occur in the areas with multiple
impacts of mining industry activities, land reclamation, or complete
vegetation cover destruction. Almost all of the rare plants species
habitats are under the threat of massive forest fires, timber
harvesting, excess of recreation, illegal gathering or collection. It
is significant that the number of the rare relict species have weak
ecological amplitude.
Key words: endemic, habitat, impact, rarity, relict