CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN HABITATS OF TOWNS OF THE UDMURT REPUBLIC (RUSSIA)

The purpose of this study is to discover the species composition of urban floras through studying and comparing certain partial floras. The object of our research is flora of small towns in Udmurtia. We have developed methodological approaches for analysis of different urban habitats. These approaches are significant for identifying of plants species composition in cities. This study is based on the method of partial floras. The term “partial flora” is understood in the interpretation of Boris A. Yurtsev. This method is widely used in Russia (Yurtsev, 1982). We’ve created the classification of habitats groups based on examination of cartographic material, aerial and satellite photography, primary analysis of the flora habitats. We have distinguished two types, 16 classes and 43 habitats kinds. The Type of natural and semi-natural habitats with little disturbance of vegetation is divided into 7 classes of habitats: meadow, forest, forest-steppe, swamp, water, coastal, naturally bare habitats. The type of anthropogenically – transformed habitats includes 9 classes: communicationly-tape, erosion, slotted, agricultural, water, artificial tree plantation, landfills, landscape gardenings, cemeteries Preliminary lists of kinds of partial flora habitats are made. Both native and alien species of plants are allocated there. Alien flora fraction was divided into groups according to the degree of danger for biodiversity. Typical species were pointed out for all habitats.


Introduction
Urban areas have a large number of places suitable for plants growth and having different environmental conditions.Therefore, they are the hotbed of concentration of alien plants.The activity of these species in certain urban partial floras can be seen when studying floristic structure of different habitats.Partial floras (Yurtsev, 1982) are the sets of species occurring in ecologically similar subdivisions of the landscape, i.e., habitat types (Khitun, 2013).Development of habitat structure classification is one of the stages of partial floras studying.There are several different classifications of urban habitats, based on different criteria: individual characteristics of settlement, allocation of plants depending on the type of urban area, period and features of building system, intensity of anthropogenic impact, phytocenotic features of areas, etc. (Gamulya and Zvyagintseva, 2010;Berezutski and Panin, 2007;Maher and Hamilton, 2012;Pysek, 1995;Mosyakin, 1996).Taking into account peculiarities of flora formation in small towns, similar and different types of habitats, we have tried to classify urban habitats depending on phytocenotic characteristics of flora and on the degree of anthropogenic influence on it.In 2012 we started studying flora of three towns (Votkinsk, Kambarka and Mojga) in Russia (Udmurtia).By the phyto-geographical regionalization of the European part of Russia the studied area is the part of West Siberian-Ural taiga province of Eurasian taiga region (Isachenko and Lavrenko, 1980).The purpose of this study is to identify the species composition of urban floras through studying and comparing particular partial floras.

Material and Metods
Research was conducted in 2012-2013 on the territory of three towns (Votkinsk, Kambarka, Mojga) Udmurtia (Russia).Urban population is relatively small.Votkinsk population is 98 thousand people., Mozhga -49 thous., Kambarka -10 thousand people.The material was collected by the method of partial floras and a routing method.Urban areas were studied within their administrative boundaries.
Basing on a comprehensive analysis (study of cartographic material, satellite images, primary analysis of flora habitats) we developed a classification of plant habitats groups.In the results you can see the list of all the habitats recorded within the town, including the overall extent of each.Running wild cultivated plant species are not taken into account while compiling floristic lists.

Results and discussion
The estimation of each species by its origin is required to analyze the results of the study of urban floras.In this basis we have divided entire set of plant species of urban areas into aboriginal and alien parts.Furthermore, the group of alien species was divided by the degree of impact on natural biodiversity.Two groups were distinguished: passive alien species that do not pose a serious threat and active alien species which include species transformers and invasive plant species.We have allocated two types of habitats (The Type of natural and semi-natural habitats with little disturbance of vegetation and The type of anthropogenically-transformed habitats) and divided them into 16 classes and 43 kinds.Thus, we have allocated 43 combined partial floras.For each partial flora we have pointed alien species list.

Type of natural and semi-natural habitats with little disturbance of vegetation
This type includes remains of natural phytocenosis, and areas with a low level of human impact.Species that grow here, form stable plant communities, represented mainly by native species.This type of habitats includes 7 classes of habitats: 1. Meadow habitats class.4 kinds of habitats were distinguished (riparian, upland, steppe, pasture).Partial flora of meadow habitats is represented by native species.The group of passive alien species in floodplains is weak and represented by such species Acer negundo L., Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden., Impatiens glandulifera Royle and others.These species often form homogenous communities along the rivers.6. Naturally bare habitats class.It includes 1 kind of habitats -naturally bare.This kind of habitats is presented by territories exposed by constant erosion (steep slopes, ravines etc.).Partial flora is poor.Equisetum arvense L., Herniaria glabra L., Scleranthus annuus L. are among aboriginal species found here.Alien fraction is presented by Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronqist, Oenothera rubricaulis Kleb., Puccinellia distans (Jacq.)Parl.7. Aquatic habitats Class. 2 kinds were distinguished (flow, and poorly flowing water).Partial flora is represented mainly by native species.A group of invasive species is presented by Elodea canadensis Michx.Partial flora of these habitats is poor.Aboriginal fraction is represented mostly by ruderal species.There can be met such passive alien species as Amaranthus retroflexus L., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv., Solanum nigrum L. Active alien species here are, Bryonia alba L., Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronqist, Solidago serotinoides A. Love & D. Love. 3. Slit habitats class. 2 kinds were distinguished (wall and curbs).This class includes by gaps in asphalt and concrete surfaces.Partial flora of this habitats is poor and represented by those species which are capable of growing on limited territories with lack of nutrients.Alien fractions of wall and curb habitats differ.In the flora of wall habitats we noticed weed alien species, whereas curbs habitats are often represented by plants as Carduus nutans L., Chamomilla suaveolens (Pursh) Rydb., Collomia linearis Nutt., et al.The group of active alien species is represented by species-transformers: Acer negundo L., Aster salignus Willd., Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden, Hordeum jubatum L. etc.