Current State of Populations of Rhodiola Rosea L. (Crassulaceae) in East Kazakhstan

Abstract Background: Based on world experience, first, a modern assessment of the flora is needed to develop strategies and tactics for the conservation of ecosystems of rare and endangered plant species. A regional and global biodiversity strategy should focus on assessing the current state of bioresources. In this regard, to preserve the biodiversity, the botanical features, the ontogenetic state, the ecological and phytocenotic structure of the rare endangered species Rh. rosea in the highlands of Eastern Kazakhstan were studied.Results: Ten populations of Rh. rosea were identified under various ecological and geomorphological conditions with a detailed description of the structure of the plant community. Systematic analysis of the plant community with Rh. rosea shows that the families Poaceae Barnhart, Ranunculaceae Juss., Asteraceae Bercht, J. Presl, Rosaceae Juss. and the leaders in the number of species are Caryophyllaceae Juss., Apiaceae Lindl., Fabaceae Lindl., Polygonaceae Juss. They make up 97 (69%) of the species in the plant community. Ecological analysis data show that the plant community is dominated by psychrophytes (32%), mesophytes (28%), mesopsychrophytes (11%) and mesoxerophytes (7%). Chorological analysis of plant populations with rh factor. rosea indicates that the Asian group (39%), the Eurasian group (30%), and the Holarctic group (20%) are the most widely represented. In Rh. rosea populations, it is most often found with Schulzia crinita, Achillea ledebourii, Doronicum altaicum, Macropodium nivale, Hylotelephium telephium, Rhodiola algida, Carex capillaris, C. aterrima, C. stenocarpa, Euphorbia pilosa, Trifolium lupinast. In the ontogenesis of Rh. rosea, all age-related conditions were identified, with the exception of the prussic condition, and the life expectancy is 50-55 years.Conclusions: The state of Rh. rosea populations is assessed as satisfactory, capable of self-sufficiency mainly due to vegetative reproduction. Seed renewal is low as a result of seedling death in the early stages of development due to extreme habitat conditions. In communities with Rh. rosea, one - and two-species families predominate, which indicates the complexity of the process of florogenesis in extreme conditions of existence. In general, the distribution of life forms, ecological groups, and species composition of communities with Rh. the participation of the rose is natural for extreme conditions of existence.