Bayanaul State National Nature Park (BSNNP), which was established in 1985 and is one of the biggest natural parks in the Republic of Kazakhstan, conserves and rehabilitates the natural flora and fauna of the Bayanaul mountain range. This article expands the floristic inventory of BSNNP and identifies the ecological and ethnobotanical importance of the park. The literature revealed that 681 plant species inhabited the BSNNP region but it was hypothesized that the park’s plant diversity was greater than the documented 681 plant species. Following our expedition travels to BSNNP, we extended the flora summary with an addition of 81 new plant species. Now, according to this study, the flora of BSNNP comprises 762 plant species belonging to 335 genera and 81 families. The leading families are Asteraceae Dumort., Poaceae Barnhart, Brassicaceae Burnett, Fabaceae Lindl, Rosaceae Juss., Caryophyllaceae Juss, Lamiaceae Lindl., Apiaceae Lindl., and Scrophulariaceae Juss. They comprise 57.7% of the total plant species in the national park and 58.5% of the total genera. The largest genera are wormwood, sedge, onion, cinquefoil, speedwell, and astragalus, based on which these genera can be considered polymorphic. Moreover, 16 species of endemic plants belonging to 14 genera and 7 families were also reported. The flora is characterized by high biological diversity with the participation of boreal relicts. The largest group among useful species is medicinal plants, represented by 186 species (24.4%) belonging to 83 genera, and 39 families. Our findings enhance the scientific understanding of plant diversity in BSNNP and provide the groundwork for future conservation research.

The present study evaluated genetic diversity of Lithuanian populations of Lythrum salicaria in relation to parameters of riparian environment. Growing along Nemunas, Seaside and Lielupė river basins, 15 populations were examined using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. Molecular data were related to the river basins, type of land use and cover, natural vice versa regulated fragments of the rivers. Population mean genetic diversity parameters were as follows: percentage of polymorphic loci (57.2), expected heterozygosity (0.183), polymorphismc information content (0.218). Mantel test revealed correlation (R2 = 0.0986, p = 0.01) between genetic and geographic distance of populations. Greater genetic diversity within, rather than among populations (ΦPT = 0.213) was observed. According to the Bayesian clustering, studied populations are admixtures of two gene pools. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant differentiation between populations belonging to distinct river basins, between populations from natural vs. regulated fragments of the rivers.

Fifteen riparian populations of Lithuanian Lythrum salicaria were assessed for leaf macronutrient, micronutrient and non-essential element concentrations and compared to the former obtained molecular data at amplified fragment length polymorphism (PLP.AFLP) loci. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to profile the contents of 12 elements in the leaves. The leaf nutrient concentrations were within normal ranges for growth and development and heavy metal concentrations did not reach toxic levels. The concentrations of macroelements such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium were in the range of 23,790–38,183; 7327–11,732; 7018–12,306; and 1377–3183 µg/g dry mass (d. m.), respectively; the concentrations of micronutrients such as sodium, iron, zinc and copper varied in the ranges of 536–6328; 24.7–167.1; 10.88–26.24; and 3.72–5.30 µg/g d. m., respectively, and the concentrations of non-essential elements such as lead, nickel, chromium, and cadmium were in the intervals of 0.136–0.940; 0.353–0.783; 0.207–0.467; and 0.012–0.028 µg/g d. m., respectively. When comparing the maximum and minimum values for site elements of L. salicaria, the concentration of N varied by 1.6, K—1.6, Ca—1.8, Mg—2.3, Na—6.1, Fe—6.8, Zn—2.4, Cu—1.5, Pb—6.9, Ni—2.2, Cr—2.2, and Cd—2.3 times. The coefficient of variation (CV) of element concentrations in sites was moderate to large: N—15.4%, K—14.3%, Ca—18.6%, Mg—24.8%, Na—50.7%, Fe—47.0%, Zn—24.9%, Cu—14.5%, Pb—57.1%, Ni—30.11%, Cr—26.0%, and Cd—38.6%. Lythrum salicaria populations growing near regulated riverbeds were characterized by significantly (p < 0.05) lower concentrations of Ca and Mg, and significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations of N, K, Fe, Na, Ni, Cr and Cd. The PLP.AFLP was negatively correlated with concentrations of N, Na, Fe, Ni, Cr, and Cd. The L. salicaria population with the lowest leaf N and Na concentration showed the highest genetic polymorphism (PLP.AFLP = 65.4%), while the least polymorphic population (PLP.AFLP = 35.0%) did not show extreme concentrations of either element. In conclusion, our elemental analysis of L. salicaria populations showed that ionomic parameters are related to genomic parameters, and some habitat differences are reflected in the ionomes of the populations.

The present study is aimed at comparing the nitrogen concentration in leaves among populations of Lythrumsalicaria, correlating the nitrogen concentration data with the type of soil cover, the state and size of rivers, the intensity of agriculture, fragments of the riverbed. Despite the abundance of data on plant nitrogen, plants differ in species composition at each site, grow in certain climatic and soil conditions and are subjected to special human pressure. Due to genetic and phenetic differences, different sampling methods, nitrogen determination methods and individual estimates, the data obtained on the amounts of nitrogen in certain species is not easy to transfer from one region to another. Exceeding critical loads for eutrophication was detected in various parts of Lithuania [1] and then tested in this country and turned out to be higher than in other Baltic countries. For our study, only leaf blades were used, and nitrogen concentrations were determined by the Kjeldahl method. Significantly significantly higher (p <0.05) nitrogen concentrations in leaves were found in L. salicaria populations growing near small rivers (3.4%), compared with large ones (2.8%). Other selected parameters of the river and its environment in most cases did not significantly affect the nitrogen concentration in the leaves of Lythrumsalicaria populations. Further experimental study of the data on the saturation of L. salicaria with nitrogen is necessary.

В данной статье изучается содержание элементного состава в образцах Thymus serpyllum и почвы, собранных в Баянаульском Национальном природном парке (Казахстан, Павлодарская область). Химический состав почвы напрямую влияет на содержание питательных веществ в чабреце. Изучение этих взаимосвязей позволяет лучше понять экосистемные процессы и адаптацию лекарственного растения к различным условиям среды. Анализ химического состава чабреца может помочь выявить активные соединения, которые способствуют его лечебным эффектам. Понимание влияния химических свойств почвы на растения может помочь в разработке устойчивых методов сельского хозяйства и охраны природы. Это особенно важно в условиях изменения климата и деградации экосистем. Чабрец может служить индикатором состояния экосистемы. Изменения в химическом составе растения могут указывать на изменения в почве и окружающей среде, что делает его ценным объектом для мониторинга экосистем. Исследование чабреца в различных экосистемах позволяет провести сравнительный анализ, который может выявить уникальные адаптационные стратегии и разнообразие видов, а также их реакцию на антропогенные факторы. Таким образом, изучение химического состава чабреца и почвы является важным шагом к пониманию сложных взаимодействий между растениями и их средой обитания, а также к разработке эффективных методов использования и охраны природных ресурсов. Ключевые слова: Thymus, элементный профиль, почва-растение, экосистема, влияние почвенных условий, влияние климатических условий