Ecological Сoenotic Variations and Demographic Peculiarities of <i>Pulsatilla patens </i>(L.) Mill s.l. (Ranunculaceae) Coenopopulations in Kirov Region
The authors estimated habitats' ecological conditions and demographic parameters of Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill s.l. in 10 coenopopulations in Kirov Region. The study states that within the investigated area the species is present in pine communities of green moss and herbaceous types with prevalence of anthropophobic species. Large proportion of anthropotolerant species is typical of communities significantly suppressed by human activity. P. patens s.l. is a hemistenobiotic species whose ecological space amplitude in Kirov Region does not exceed the limits of Tsyganov's scale ecological range [1983], but soil humidity scale values are approaching the maximum limit and scales of humidity variability - near the minimum. Discomfort index calculated with phytoindication data allows determining the level of favour. We have determined that conditions of mixed herbs - gramineous meadow with bracken coincide with optimum ecological parameters for the species growth. The least favourable conditions for P. patens s.l. development are formed in cowberry-green moss pine forest and herbaceous pine forests where maximum discomfort indices are marked: 1.09 and 1.01, respectively. The coenopopulations studied are of low density and generativity, which demonstrate the decrease tendency on an ecological conditions gradient.