Prospects for the dynamics of Quercus robur L. cenopopulations in the communities of the Kulikovo Field State Museum-Reserve assessed by the methods of plant population biology

The demographic, vitality, and spatial structures of Quercus robur L. cenopopulations were examined under different phytocenotic conditions of the Kulikovo Field Museum-Reserve and its surroundings (Tula region), including various oak-dominated stands, small-leaved forests, shrub thickets along forest edges, and meadow steppe areas. A total of 17 cenopopulations were analyzed. These populations occupied the interfluves, as well as the ravine slopes of varying steepness, exposure, and moisture levels in the thalweg. The highest cenopopulation densities were observed in a slope oak stand, small-leaved forests, and meadow steppe areas. All cenopopulations were ontogenetically incomplete, classified as either normal or invasive. Most cenopopulations of the oak stands had ontogenetic spectra peaking at middle-aged generative individuals, with pregenerative stages notably absent. In contrast, most cenopopulations of the small-leaved forests, shrub thickets, and meadow steppe areas exhibited spectral peaks at pregenerative individuals. Individuals with normal vitality were most prevalent in the meadow steppe areas and shrub thickets. The spatial distribution structure was largely uneven. The most favorable conditions for maintaining the flow of generations in the species cenopopulations were revealed in the sparse oak stand on a gentle slope of the moist ravine, as well as in the shrub thickets and meadow steppe areas.

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