ECOLOGICAL AND CENOTIC PECULIARITIES OF MEADOW AND STEPPE ASSOCIATIONS OF PA "BESPUTSKAYA POLYANA"
The tract "Besutskaya Polyana" is located in Stavropol Territory near the farm Molochny. It belongs to specially pro- tected natural territories of Stavropol Territory with the status of the State Nature Reserve, popularly known as the “Cross”. The Sengileyan hollow with a picturesque lake of the same name adjoins the territory of Besutskaya Polyana reserve, which also belongs to specially protected natural area Priozerny Reserve. Under the influence of economic activity of the man the shape of the nature is changed. There is a change of specific structure of plants and animals. And there is a sharp loss of endemic types being the edificators for this district. In this regard there is specific impoverishment leading to natural ecosystem degradation. Degradation processes of ecosystems, as a rule, are also followed by the processes of introduction. There are types, not characteristic for this cenosis. The shape of phytocenosis, behind it and zoocenosis completely changes. The consequences of such changes lead to irreversible consequences, up to the change of the landscape of the district. In this connection the problems of preservation of phytocenosis of this region are especially actual. The purpose of the research was to study ecological and cenotic features of meadow-steppe associations of Besputskaya Polyana reserve in connection with intensive grazing of cattle (C) and small cattle (SC) by local shepherds and animals from private farmsteads. The tasks are the as- sessment of the significance of the territory in the conserva- tion of biological diversity.