The condition of the populations of <i>Paeonia anomala (Paeoniaceae) </i>at the northern edge of the West Siberian habitat
In West Siberia, near the northern edge of the Paeonia anomala area, three new sites were found (in the Khanty-Mansiisk and the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Districts), one of which is located to the north of the Arctic circle in the valley of the Taz River. Geobotanical descriptions of the phytocoenoses involving Paeonia anomala have been developed. Qualitative parameters of the populations of P. anomala such as area, density and magnitude are given. For two populations, age spectra are given. The biological condition of the specimens from the Arctic population of P. anomala in West Siberia is discussed. In the left-bank part of the valley of the Ob River, populations of Paeonia anomala were found on a bushed meadow (Rosa majalis, Thalictrum minus, Poa palustris, Plantago major) and in a bushed birch forest with grass layer (Betula pendula, Sorbus sibirica, Rosa acicularis, Rubus saxatilis, Calamagrostis neglecta, Gymnocarpium dryopteris) formed on leveled surfaces of residual mountains on the first terrace above the flood-plain. The low magnitude and density of the populations suggest a significant anthropogenic load. The population found in the valley of the Taz River is the only one in the Arctic part of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. It covers the right-bank sides of the valley with southern, south-western, south-eastern and western exposition and slope angle between 30-45°. The population exists in a bushed birch and larch forest with grass layer (Larix sibirica, Betula pubescens, Duschekia fruticosa, Sorbus sibirica, Rosa majalis, Lonicera pallasii, Ribes hispidulum, Calamagrostis canescens, Paeonia anomala). The population in the valley of the Taz River does not bear any significant anthropogenic load, as suggested by the normal (one-peak) type of its age spectrum, its high density and magnitude. This is a reference population for the conditions of the northern part of West Siberia. The territorial unit on the right-bank side of the valley of the Taz River should be recommended for the list of protected areas of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District.