Brandushka versicolor, a flowering plant that lives in the steppes and is included in the Red Book, has become the subject of research that can help improve the system of protected areas in the Voronezh region and provide more effective protection for this species. The loss of biodiversity is one of the major environmental problems, and its direct effects on ecosystems and environmental pollution have led to the extinction of many plant and animal species.
To protect rare species, it is important to be knowledgeable about their ecology and the effects of environmental changes, including climate change. Ecological distribution modeling, such as species distribution modeling (SDM), has become an advanced tool for such studies. It makes it possible to relate actual observations of living things to environmental conditions that determine their geographical distribution.
Researchers focused on specially protected natural areas of the Voronezh region and the region’s network of steppe ecosystems. They collected data on 130 species included in the Red Book and created an SDM model for multicolor brandy. Brandushka was chosen as an indicator of rare steppe ecosystems, as there were a sufficient number of observations (163 findings from 1769 to 2021). These data were obtained from herbarium repositories, collected and validated by scientists and also from the GBIF international biodiversity database.
The results of the study showed that the multi-colored brandushka is distributed mainly in the troughs and valleys of the south of the Voronezh region. This corresponds to the fact that the Voronezh region is located in the far north of the range of this plant. Brandushka prefers valleys and slopes, since most of the fertile chernozems on flat land have long been used for fields.
The scientists hope that their research will not only add to our knowledge of the rare plant, but also help optimize the network of steppe sanctuaries in the region.
Source: Ferra
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