THE BOBAK MARMOT (MARMOTA BOBAK) AND FLORISTIC DIVERSITY OF STEPPE MEADOWS IN THE BRYANSK REGION

The role of steppe marmots, or the bobak marmots, in the formation and maintenance of the structural and species diversity of steppe meadows is shown. Due to grazing, animals form small-grass meadows within their settlement. The marmot’s trophic activity hinders the development of tall grasses: Bromopsis inermis, Calamagrostis epigeios, Elytrigia repens etc. Without grazing,large grasses form cenotically closed groups and displaces most of the weakly competitive meadow plant species. During the growing season, marmots change the set of consumed grasses. This excludes the digression of the small-grass meadow in their settlement. Thanks to the burrowing activity marmot’s settlements appear in the meadows. Unique ecological conditions of marmot’s settlements contribute to the formation of microgroups of dry meadow species. In addition, annual and biennial plants, as well as nitrophilous, nemoral and boreal plants, which are not characteristic for steppe meadows, are actively introduced into marmot’s settlements.