ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA GAERTN. COENOPOPULATIONS AND THEIR PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION IN THE FLORA OF THE KIGASH RIVER, ATYRAU REGION

Abstract

The article is devoted to the investigation of the current state of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. coenopopulations in the flora of the Kigash River, which flows through the western part of the Kurmangazy District of the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan. In addition, the phytochemical composition of the flowers and leaves of this species was analyzed. The study includes taxonomic, ecological, and phytochemical analyses of N. nucifera coenopopulations. The results showed that the structure of N. nucifera coenopopulations in the flora of the Kigash River is relatively stable and is characterized by the predominance of virginile and generative individuals. The investigated coenopopulation is associated with the vegetation cover of the Kigash River floodplain, where the riparian zone is represented by mixed tree-shrub-herb communities with a well-developed stratified structure, while the aquatic zone is dominated by associations of aquatic vegetation with N. nucifera. The favorable condition of the coenopopulation is associated with sufficient seed regeneration in recent years and its co-occurrence with green algae. The viability of N. nucifera individuals within the coenopopulations is largely determined by habitat conditions. The obtained results indicate that the studied N. nucifera coenopopulations are in a favorable state and form part of the natural wetland phytocoenoses of the Kigash River floodplain, which are characterized by high floristic and coenotic diversity and require conservation as valuable natural ecosystems of Western Kazakhstan.

Keywords:. Nelumbo nucifera, populations, coenopopulations, Atyrau region, Kigash river.